Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan is set to pitchfork Luke Lewis into the club’s crucial five-eighth role to resuscitate the Sharks’ flagging NRL season.

Ben Barba will miss Saturday’s clash with the fellow winless Gold Coast at Remondis Stadium through suspension, with Lewis likely to replace the former Dally M medallist in the frontline playmaking role.

Barba is facing a two-week suspension if he takes the early guilty plea on a grade one dangerous thrown charge and a grade one dangerous contact charge.

Cronulla are considering fighting the dangerous contact charge but are resigned to being without the former Canterbury and Brisbane playmaker for the vital Titans clash.

Lewis enjoyed a solid return from a knee injury in last week’s loss to Melbourne.

The Australian and NSW star is the type of game-breaking player the Sharks desperately need to help kickstart their season after demoralising losses to Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Former Norths Devils playmaker Todd Murphy spent some time training at first receiver at Sharks training on Tuesday.

However, he is seen a similar type of playmaker to Sharks halfback Jeff Robson.

As a result Flanagan is leaning towards using Lewis in a pivot role that he has had success in before with Penrith.

Back-rower Wade Graham and youngster Jack Bird are two other options, but moving Lewis up into the role would unsettle the club the least.

“More than anything we just need a win,” said Sharks back-rower Chris Heighington, who will play his 250th NRL game against the Titans.

“We haven’t started the season as we hoped we would and our confidence has taken a bit of a hit.

“But we are still confident in the group that we do have a we just need a win to get things started for us this season.”