Crossland won't play in the NRL Nines in Perth in a fortnight's time and is highly unlikely to be risked in the trials as he battles osteitis pubis, an inflammatory condition affecting the groin and pelvic regions. He hasn't trained with the full squad for the past six weeks, spending most of his time rehabbing in the pool and doing pilates

"I'm treating it as a groin injury as is the physio," he said. "It's frustrating but injuries are a part of life in footy because it's very physical so you just have to deal with it."

If anything, Crossland is paying the price for being over exuberant and too keen to impress during the opening five weeks of training after recovering from a stress fracture in his ankle.

"I like to think I'm a hard trainer who really puts in the effort but it's probably come back to bite me a little bit I think," he said. "It's an over-load injury if anything so I've probably been trying to work too hard for my own good.

"Being a younger bloke and not having too many big pre-seasons under my belt, my body probably wasn't ready to handle the stress and cope with the loads, particularly when I wasn't able to do too much in the off-season leading in."

Crossland said there is no real time-frame on when he'll be back in full training.

"I started running on Monday but there's no real time limit on when I'll be back fully training with the squad," he said. "I don't think I'll be playing any trials and I'm obviously not going to be playing Nines.

"My main focus is just getting my body right for round one and there is no focus on what team I'm playing for or what position or what number I've got on my back.

"It's really just making sure I'm 110 percent right to play then and if I can do that, I'm kicking a massive goal in my books."

After getting a small taste of the NRL off the bench against the Bulldogs last season, Crossland had been widely touted as a serious contender to partner skipper Mitchell Pearce in the halves for the premiership opener. But while he has been watching from the sidelines, Mann hasn't missed a session and now looks certain to be given first crack provided he remains injury free.

Crossland, who was part of a Knights contingent who visited the Soul Cafe yesterday to help dish out free meals to the disadvantaged in the community, is remaining positive.

"I'm looking at it as a good challenge of character," he said. "No-one ever likes being injured but after a week of feeling sorry for yourself, it's about getting back on track and reassessing where you're at as a person and your attitude towards the game. I've used the time to make sure I nail everything away from the field."

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