Cronulla have been boosted by the news prop Bryce Gibbs looks set to return to NRL action against Penrith this Saturday, but could lose second-rower Anthony Tupou to a knee injury for six weeks.

Gibbs, who is recovering from a broken thumb, has been named to play for the past two weeks before being a late withdrawal each time but skipper Paul Gallen is confident the former Wests Tiger will line up against the Panthers.

The news isn’t as positive for Tupou, who will not play this weekend and will undergo scans on Friday to determine the extent of damage of a meniscus injury in his knee that could rule him out until round 11.

“Unfortunately it’s a bit of a knee injury (for Tupou),” Gallen said on Wednesday.

“It’s a pretty fair replacement being able to bring Bryce Gibbs back into the team though.

“(Gibbs) just adds to the depth in the front row and it will be really good to have him back on the field.”

The move will see Gallen, who has slotted in at prop in Gibbs’ absence, shift back to his preferred position of lock, while also playing stints at second-row.

“I imagine Gibbsy will come straight back into the front-row and I’ll take Toops’ (Tupou) spot,” Gallen said.

“It’s a pretty easy shuffle around, I’ve done it before and I don’t think it’s going to change the way we play too much.”

The Sharks are also likely to lose winger Stewart Mills to a hamstring injury he has struggled with for the past fortnight.

Matthew Wright is his likely replacement.