Aalbers, who hasn’t played since injuring his ankle against North Albury in round 4, remains troubled by the problem and coach James Saker conceded it hadn’t healed as well as expected.

“We won’t know for a couple of days but there is potentially the need for a clean up,” Saker said.

“It hasn’t progressed.

“If that (surgery) was the case, he’d obviously miss a fair bit of footy.”

Aalbers isn’t the only wounded Panther.

Sam Harris badly hurt his own ankle at training last week and faces several weeks on the sidelines.

“It’s probably not as bad as first anticipated,” Saker said.

“He is a sneaky chance before the bye.”

Matt Pendergast is out indefinitely because of an infection, while star forward Adam Prior is still a few weeks away.

He has a knee injury.

“We’ll be very precautionary with Adam,” Saker said.

“But he’s a good chance to train next week.”