St George Illawarra centre Dylan Farrell is expected to play again this season despite rupturing his pectoral muscle in Monday night’s controversial loss to Melbourne.

Farrell has undergone surgery and while the Dragons haven’t given a time-frame for his recovery, the club is confident he will take the field again in 2014.

The average recovery period for the injury is around three to four months.

“Dylan has had his pectoral muscle repaired and we’ve already sighted him after the surgery,” Dragons performance director Andrew Gray said in a statement.

“He’s focused on his rehabilitation and will be in a sling for a few weeks and then we’ll get started.

“We don’t have a definitive time frame when he will be back but he’ll definitely be available to play for us again this season at some stage.”

The loss of the hard-running Farrell is a significant blow for Steve Price’s side who have slumped to three successive losses after enjoying three straight wins to start the season.

NSW Under-20s representative Charly Runciman or utility Kyle Stanley will likely replace Farrell for Saturday’s clash with the Warriors at Kogarah Oval.

Canterbury forward Frank Pritchard also suffered a pectoral injury in the Bulldogs’ last-round one-point win over the Warriors and is set to miss three to four months.