Former Cowboy Jayden Hodges in line to replace Manly hooker Matt Ballin

FORMER Cowboys hooker Jayden Hodges is the call-up option for Manly in their clash with North Queensland if Matt Ballin is rested.

Jayden Hodges passes during Manly Warringah Sea Eagles training at Narrabeen Sports Centre , Narrabeen .Picture Gregg Porteous

FORMER Cowboys hooker Jayden Hodges is the call-up option for Manly in their clash with North Queensland if ironman clubmate Matt Ballin is rested for the finals.

Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey said he hoped Ballin, who has started in all 23 games this season, will be able to overcome a corked thigh and play in Townsville on Saturday.

Lock Jamie Buhrer, another ever-present forward for Manly this season, will miss the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Jayden Hodges at training.

It further stretches Manly’s depth in the forwards, with Glenn Stewart (ankle) also sidelined for the entire finals series.

Ballin will be given the chance to build on his of 190 consecutive games for the Club in Townsville on Saturday night.

Hodges is the No.2 hooker for Manly, who he joined this year after making his NRL debut for Cowboys in Round 25 last year.

Jayden Hodges passes during Manly training.

The 20-year-old Cairns product has played one first grade game for Manly, in Round 17 against Canterbury.

Toovey is optimistic about Ballin’s prospects of playing against the Cowboys in a game which will determine Manly’s top-two prospects and the fate of North Queensland’s top-four drive.

Sea Eagles prop Brenton Lawrence (knee) also hopes to play, having missed his first game of the season in Manly’s hair-raising win over Penrith last Sunday.