But the Cronulla Sharks coach is staying positive – and finally received some good news on Tuesday with star winger Valentine Holmes named to play the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night.

The 21-year-old was helped from the field after Cronulla's 12-6 loss to South Sydney on Monday night, with fears his season might have been over after he looked to suffer a high ankle sprain.

But the club confirmed Holmes had not suffered any serious damage and would be right to play the Roosters at Southern Cross Group Stadium as Cronulla look to snap a four-game winless run.

NSW five-eighth James Maloney will also be named to play his former side after he took an early guilty plea for a grade one careless high tackle charge for a hit on Aaron Gray in the 73rd minute of the loss to the Rabbitohs.

Cronulla also confirmed captain Paul Gallen (calf) and winger Sosaia Feki (groin) would be named to return from injury against the Roosters and are expected to play.

Flanagan said while it had been a difficult period he was confident his side could get back to the form that saw them sit clear at the top of the table just five weeks ago.

"It's not hard for me to be positive about it. That's my job, to make sure we work hard. We're in good shape. When we get to the semi-finals this will all be forgotten," he said.

"Once we get there it's a new competition. We'll get 'Gal' back and Sosaia Feki back and hopefully get some wins on the way home.

"It's not going to be easy, we know that.

"But they're trying really hard. They're trying their butts off and things are just not working at the moment.

"If they keep trying it'll turn around.

"It is what it is. We won 15 in a row and [had] a draw. We haven't had that [tough] period. That period is now."

Flanagan said the minor premiership was no longer his team's focus.

With Cronulla now three points behind leaders Melbourne, the Sharks' top-two spot is no longer a given – unthinkable a month ago – with the rampant Canberra Raiders breathing down their necks.

Winning their last two regular season games – against the Roosters and the Storm – was Flanagan's only priority.

"No, not now [the minor premiership is] not [the focus]," he said.

"We just need to get out and concentrate on what we're doing [and] get some wins under our belt.

"Melbourne look like they're cruising along at the moment. We've got a tough game this week. [Melbourne] are a bit better than us at the moment… we won't be concentrating on that."

Twitter: @andy_parko