Peter Wallace has endorsed Tyrone May as Matt Moylan’s replacement at five-eighth if the star playmaker is ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Wallace played the majority of his career in the halves – including four games for NSW in 2008 and 2009 – before shifting to hooker in recent years.

He filled in at five-eighth in the closing stages of Penrith’s 24-16 win over Gold Coast on Saturday after Moylan was taken from the field as his hamstring continued to tighten.

Moylan declared he would be fit for Thursday’s clash with the Bulldogs, but given the Panthers’ five-day turnaround he will likely be racing the clock.

The Panthers’ depth at hooker – where Mitch Rein is stuck in reserve grade – would make Wallace a logical choice to return to the halves.

But 31-year-old Wallace said May should return to the starting side after making his debut against the Warriors last week when both he and Moylan were injured.

“I don’t think I’ll be there,” Wallace said.

“Tyrone May did a really good job there last week, so I expect him to come in if Moyza is out next week.

“He played really well today as well as he went back to reserve grade … I would probably expect him to come straight in.”

Returning star Bryce Cartwright could also be an option at No.6 for coach Anthony Griffin after he played there earlier in the season.

Cartwright returned from a knee injury through reserve grade for Penrith on Saturday, and scored one try and set up two others in their 48-18 flogging of Illawarra.

“I just wanted to get him on there and get his confidence and let him play,” Griffin said.

“Even when he was on earlier in the year he was playing injured.

“I think everyone saw that. It’s good that he is fully fit at the moment.”

Cartwright has spent the past two months alongside Wallace in rehabilitation for his knee.

The former Penrith captain said he had seen a shift in the youngster after a drama-filled start to the season on and off the field.

“He had a rough start to the year off the field which didn’t help things,” Wallace said.

“But he’s in a really good place now off the field and he is getting his body right now too.

“So I expect him to come back with a lot of confidence.”