Wests Tigers prop Aaron Woods is in doubt for the opening round of the NRL season after undergoing minor knee surgery on Tuesday.

Woods underwent what coach Michael Potter described as a “grease and oil change” after hyper-extending his knee at training ten days ago.

Tigers medical officials attempted to let the injury heal itself, but soon realised an arthroscope would be the best course of action.

“… it’s just tweaked a bit of cartilage,” Potter said of the injury.

“He completed a tough rehab session the other day and it looked like he was going to be OK.

“We just let it settle and it didn’t quite settle, so it was just `let’s just get him in’ (for surgery).”

Asked whether he was confident of having Woods – one of the Tigers’ best during a disappointing 2012 campaign – back for the round one match against Newcastle on March 11, Potter said:

“I’m hopeful, but if he’s not he’ll be there (round) two or three.”