Wests Tigers say James Tedesco could face an extended stint on the sidelines due to an ankle injury suffered in Sunday’s 34-18 NRL win over Manly.

The Tigers said in a statement on Monday that the star fullback “could potentially be sidelined for an extended period”.

Tedesco will definitely miss the Tigers’ round six clash with North Queensland on Saturday and will undergo scans on Tuesday that should determine the full extent of the injury.

“While it is clear that Tedesco will miss this Saturday’s clash against the Cowboys, an exact return date will not be known until club medical staff receive the results of tomorrow’s scans,” the statement read.

The injury is a significant blow to the Tigers, who are 3-2 and in sitting in the top eight after an impressive start to the season.

Tedesco has been a key player in the Tigers’ wins over the Gold Coast, South Sydney and Manly and time on the sideline will give the in-demand star the opportunity to sort out his future.

Canterbury are reportedly chasing him as a long-term replacement for Ben Barba, while the Tigers have repeatedly said how keen they are to keep the up-and-coming star.

Tedesco hurt his ankle in a 32nd-minute tackle against the Sea Eagles on a sodden Leichhardt Oval surface. He returned for the second half with the home side leading 26-6 but came off in the 50th minute and didn’t return.

It is the latest in a string of injuries for Tedesco, who ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in 2012 and played with a crack in his fibula last season.

The Tigers could also be without five-eighth Braith Anasta for the match with the Cowboys after he was charged with a grade two shoulder charge by the NRL Match Review Committee on Monday.

He will be suspended for one match if he takes the early guilty plea.