Wests Tigers coach Ivan Cleary will continue to use Josh Reynolds in a super-sub role as the former Bulldogs playmaker works his way back to peak condition.
Injuries have limited Reynolds to a few appearances off the bench for his new club, including last week's impressive performance when he scored a try to spark a late revival in a narrow loss to the Roosters.
Cleary is reluctant to break up his halves partnership of Luke Brooks and Benji Marshall, leaving Reynolds to find some playing time as a back-up hooker to Elijah Taylor.
Some Tigers fans felt Reynolds was so effective against the Roosters that he should get the nod to start in the No.9 jersey.
While Cleary didn't rule out eventually going down that path, he is maintaining the status quo for now.
"It's not really a long-term plan, Josh is still managing his way through some injuries and hasn't played a lot of football for a long time, and he's still trying to find his feet," Cleary said.
"Benji and Luke have been in the halves all year and have a good combination going, and Josh really added something to us last week.
"The more game time he gets the better he'll get, and what we do then I guess we'll work it out."
Cleary is confident Reynolds won't become impatient with his limited role off the bench.
"I think he's just happy playing and happy to play his role for the team - whatever we need at the time - and he did that last week," he said.
Recent speculation suggests the Tigers are in the market for former Tigers prop Aaron Woods, who is likely to leave the Bulldogs after one season due to the club's financial issues.
Cleary had little to say on the possibility of Woods returning to Tiger town.
"I've mentioned this before, that I was really happy with the way Aaron finished his time here last year after he made the decision to go to the Dogs," he said.
"I enjoyed working with him and he played really well at the end of last year. I don't really know any more than that.
"Obviously the Dogs are going through some salary cap issues and everyone is saying that everyone's on the market. Whether they are not I don't actually know. It's all heresy."
Cleary flew to Melbourne to watch son Nathan make his NSW Origin debut on Wednesday and hopes the pair will be on the same side one day.
"I've said before I'd love to coach him and he also wants to team up at some point," he said.
"The stars have to align but hopefully some day we can do it."
The Tigers are ninth on the NRL ladder with a 7-6 record heading into Sunday's away game against Cronulla.
"It's a challenge at Shark park but we've shown that we're competitive every week and we feel like we can tidy up some execution areas and give ourselves a good chance on Sunday," Cleary said.
The Tigers received good news on injured winger David Nofoaluma.
"He's got off crutches really quickly so that's a good sign," Cleary said.
"He's moving quite well, and with the byes coming up, hopefully we don't miss him too long."
