WITH their season already on life support, Parramatta are now struggling to field a fit team under the salary cap as Feleti Mateo yesterday joined a host of injured stars.

A torn bicep has already scratched Mateo from Friday night’s clash against South Sydney, leaving the Eels without their frontline halves pairing after regular No. 7 Kris Keating last night underwent surgery for a broken jaw.

Keating is officially out for 10 weeks, and Mateo could join him for just as long should MRI scans taken yesterday reveal a severe tear. The 13th-placed Eels also lost Weller Hauraki (ankle) for up to four months yesterday, while skipper Nathan Cayless is in extreme doubt as he continues to feel the effects of a serious concussion suffered in Sunday’s loss to Manly.

Compounding Parramatta’s woes is the fact they have precious little room under next year’s salary cap to blood players from outside the 25-man NRL squad. Teenage halves Daniel Mortimer and Albert Kelly have been touted as potential saviours but match payments for every game either plays this season will be counted toward the Eels’ cap for 2010.

In the absence of further players following Brett Finch out the door before June 30, their selections would erode Parramatta’s ability to lure new recruits for next season. Officials are currently chasing props Justin Poore and Shane Shackleton.

Nursing a no-win selection headache, Parramatta coach Daniel Anderson admitted the cap complications would play a role in team’s make-up this week.

“It’s a difficult one because everything we do now impacts on the cap next year,” Anderson said. “We need to have a look at all the scans (today) and make some decisions.

“The length of the injuries is unbelievable and if we get the worst news, then it’s a pretty ordinary afternoon at Brookvale.

“At this stage Kris needs a steel plate in his jaw and is very bad.

“As for Feleti and Weller, we’re hoping for the best but expecting the worst. No-one is out of the equation at the moment.”

Anderson confirmed that NSW Cup halfback Jeff Robson would return to first grade to cover for Keating. The Wentworthville playmaker was solid in two appearances after Finch’s departure, but was overshadowed by Kelly in the Magpies’ 60-10 romp over Newtown last weekend.

The 18-year-old cousin of Melbourne sensation Greg Inglis scored a whopping five tries, his first coming just nine seconds into the match.

The Storm are hovering over Kelly for next season, and should they sign him Anderson’s cap problem would ease slightly because Melbourne would then inherit next year’s burden for his 2009 NRL match payments.