Injury hit and out our sorts, Manly candidly admit their assignment in Saturday’s NRL semi-final against Canterbury has become almost mission impossible after they lost veteran representative forward Anthony Watmough to suspension.

Watmough took the early guilty plea on a grade one dangerous throw on Greg Inglis in the Sea Eagles’ heavy qualifying loss to South Sydney on Friday.

The resulting one-match ban has sidelined the NSW back-rower for the do-or-die clash with the Bulldogs.

Watmough joins Glenn Stewart (ankle) and Jamie Buhrer (knee) on the sidelines, but hooker Matt Ballin could make a shock return for the Allianz Stadium encounter.

Manly were brutally exposed up front by the Rabbitohs and the giant Bulldogs pack are sure to attempt to carve out the same game plan, right through the middle of the Sea Eagles’ ruck.

Brett Stewart will notch up his 200th NRL game against his former mentor in Bulldogs coach Des Hasler and said the loss of Watmough was significant.

“‘Choc’ has been one of our best forwards all year. We need him in the side to win, I think,” Stewart said at training on Tuesday.

Strike centre Steve Matai, who will be expected to pick up the hit-up slack in Watmough’s absence added: “He is a big part of our club.

“He does a lot of work in the middle. I’m sure we will definitely miss that. He is one of our most valuable players.”

There was talk Manly could fight the charge but Watmough tweeted an explanation after accepting the plea.

“Unfortunately our lawyer said there was to much to risk in challenging the @NRL lets all support the boys and get them home this week…” he wrote.

Much will fall upon the shoulders of retiring prop Jason King against the monster Bulldogs pack.

“Choc will certainly be missed. He is an important part of our team and has been for a number of years,” King said.

“The Bulldogs were very impressive on the weekend. Their forwards were rolling down the field and they have some variation around the middle of the park and their backs have polish.

“Our backs are against the wall and we have to do everything in our preparation to be sure we go out there and a play a lot better than we have been.”