Canterbury’s NRL finals chances have struck a blow with skipper James Graham to miss four weeks with a neck injury.

With their top eight hopes already hanging by a thread, Graham will undergo surgery to correct a persistent problem.

Des Hasler’s Dogs are 13th, struggling to keep pace with the top eight and will fall three wins behind the eighth-placed Parramatta with a loss on Thursday night.

They will also be missing Greg Eastwood for five to six weeks due to a meniscus tear in his knee.

Sam Kasiano will replace Graham in the Dogs’ starting side, while winger Brett Morris returns after being rested last week.

Meanwhile, injured Melbourne skipper Cameron Smith is no certainty to play in their NRL clash against Brisbane on Friday, after skipping training on Tuesday.

Coach Craig Bellamy wouldn’t elaborate on Smith’s injury, except to say he was still sore following last week’s Origin.

Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk have been named to face the Broncos but are no guarantees while Will Chambers (concussion) and Jordan McLean (fractured cheekbone) are also back.

Te Maire Martin will make his North Queensland debut against Canberra on Saturday in place of injured skipper Johnathan Thurston.

Just two weeks after being shown the door by Penrith, the New Zealand international is being charged with leading the Cowboys to the finals.

He will slot in at five-eighth with Michael Morgan to revert to halfback.

“They haven’t trained together a hell of a lot because Morgo’s been on Origin duty,” coach Paul Green said of his new halves pairing.

“And those guys (their Origin representatives) had the early part of the week off to give them a freshen up. But he’s a pretty smart kid, he’s picking it up pretty quickly.”

Martin replaces Kyle Laybutt who has been sent back to Queensland Cup to work on chinks in his defensive armour.

Centre Euan Aitken (hamstring) returns for St George Illawarra while prop Paul Vaughan (calf) will be replaced by Leeson Ah Mau in the starting side to take on the Gold Coast.

Kodi Nikorima has been named at halfback by Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett but could be replaced by Ben Hunt, who has once again been included on the bench.

Nu Brown slots into the Cronulla dummy-half role for Jayden Brailey (broken jaw).

Kieran Foran (quad) returns for the Warriors to face his former club Manly, while Nathaniel Roache replaces hooker Issac Luke (shoulder).

Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco (ankle) will also make his comeback, as will South Sydney captain Sam Burgess (glute).