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Manly are taking the approach that they must win all of their last six games to make the NRL finals, with Tom Trbojevic still another two weeks away.

Des Hasler has told Manly every game from here is a must-win clash to avoid the Sea Eagles missing the finals with him at the helm for the first time since 2004.

Hasler has taken Manly to the finals in his past eight NRL campaigns as their coach, with his time in charge punctuated by an absence between 2012 and 2018.

But never has that record looked as shaky as now.

Manly find themselves four points out of the finals with six rounds to play, with Saturday's game against eighth-placed South Sydney a make-or-break clash for their season.

"The best way to approach it is we have to win every game," Hasler said.

"Regardless of tightropes and being four points adrift, you don't know what's going to happen to other sides.

"It can turn so quickly in one game. What is important for us is we just need to win."

Hasler's men could still receive a massive boost, with Martin Taupau cleared to return from a concussion and fellow prop Addin Fonua-Blake backed to come back early from a knee injury.

While Souths and then Melbourne shape as daunting prospects for Manly, their run home after that is relatively smooth if they survive the next fortnight.

Their predicament comes despite them having looked a finals side for the first half of the year, beating the Sydney Roosters and Parramatta.

Other injuries have no doubt hurt.

Tom Trbojevic's return date has now been pushed back to round 17, making for an 11-week absence from a hamstring tear.

The Sea Eagles have also dropped games against Warriors and Newcastle in the part fortnight they should have won.

But Hasler insisted he couldn't grow frustrated with the situation.

"You've got to try and balance it," Hasler said.

"Frustration just creates so much negative stuff. It's more just that you're in that situation, it's how you get out of it."

Meanwhile the Rabbitohs have lost Jack Johns to a finger injury, with Kurt Dillion to replace him on the bench.

STATS THAT MATTER:

* Manly have lost their past 10 at ANZ Stadium, conceding at least 20 points in each game.

* Souths have won seven of eight against clubs currently below them on the ladder.

* Souths fullback Latrell Mitchell has the most linebreak assists in the NRL, with 20.