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Sharks back-rower Kurt Capewell will take the unusual step of wearing a protective guard around his groin after rupturing a testicle in the final round of the regular season.

Capewell, who underwent surgery to repair the delicate injury, has been named on Cronulla's bench for the sudden-death semi-final against the Panthers at Allianz Stadium on Friday night.

Painful: Kurt Capewell. Credit:AAP

Scott Sorensen will replace Wade Graham in the starting side after Graham tore his ACL in the qualifying final defeat against the Roosters.

The 24-year-old Capewell, who was 18th man in the Sharks' historic title two years ago, didn't even know he had sustained the injury after a collision with Matt Frawley in Cronulla's win over the Bulldogs.