The Roosters aren’t giving up hope of getting superstar Sam Walker back from injury in the finals, with veteran playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans and the versatile Hugo Savala backed to get the job done while he’s sidelined.

The club confirmed that Walker had surgery on Sunday to repair the syndesmosis injury that he suffered against the Dolphins on Saturday night, with the loss seeing the Roosters drop from first to fourth in the space of two weeks.

They will finish in the top four – which ensures they get a second chance in September – no matter what happens in the final round of the season.

But their chances of winning the premiership hinge on whether Walker will be cleared to return after he injured his left foot following a tackle by Dolphins forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.

Walker was in agony and had to be helped from the field by trainers, with Hugo Savala shifting to the halves where he will likely remain for the upcoming game against Souths.

“He had surgery yesterday, so the big fella is just resting up now,” Roosters utility Connor Watson said.

“He’s obviously disappointed. We’re disappointed as a group, but he’s got his eyes set on coming back this year so we’ll see if that happens, but hopefully it does.

“With these injuries, you can get back from them in 4-6 weeks, so it’s definitely possible. There’s obviously hope there, but it’s a good opportunity for Hugo to come in this week as well, and we all know what he’s capable of, so I’m looking forward to playing with him.”

Savala burst onto the scene last year but has only played two games in the halves this year, with the emerging talent spending most of his time at left centre.

While he’s a very different player to Walker, his big body and booming right boot are valuable assets in the finals where points are traditionally harder to come by.

“I don’t think it’s too big of a thing for him,” Watson said.

“He’s shown what he’s been capable of over the last couple of years. He came in last year when we were sort of struggling and really helped us turn our season around playing in the halves. He’s just a football player. He’ll go out there and do his job.”

The injury to Walker would usually derail a team’s finals chances, but the Roosters still have Cherry-Evans who is in his 16th and final NRL season where he has seen and done it all.

He was brought to the club for moments like this, with his teammates backing him to stand tall.

“We really need ‘Chez’ right now,” prop forward Naufahu Whyte said.

“In saying that, we back any brother of ours. That’s the whole reason we’re a team, and it’s the whole reason why we’re all in these four walls and we have the belief in each other to get the job done no matter who you are, no matter how many games you’ve played and no matter where you sit in this club.

“As soon as you put that Roosters jersey on, as brothers we back you to do a job.”

Veteran winger Daniel Tupou and rugby-bound edge forward Angus Crichton are in the mix to return from injury for Friday’s showdown with the Rabbitohs.

Originally published as ‘We really need Chez right now’: Roosters reveal finals hope for Sam Walker after star undergoes surgery