WESTS TIGERS hooker Robbie Farah has undergone spinal surgery in the hope of overcoming the ongoing back problems that have plagued his career.
Farah, who has been suffering a back injury similar to the one that sidelined Anthony Minichiello for almost two years, had a discectomy last week.
The procedure, performed by neurosurgeon Richard Parkinson, went smoothly and the Tigers star expects to be available for his side's opening-round clash with Canberra.
"Now that the off-season has come up we decided now was the best time to get it done and out of the way," Farah said yesterday.
"It's to make sure we don't have the same issues next year that I had this year.
"They had to shave off the bit of the disc that was hitting the nerve.
"It went well and I'm certainly very happy that I'll be running again before Christmas.
"That gives me plenty of time to get into pre-season training."
Farah, who was sidelined for five games early in the season due to the back complaint, admitted the injury had sapped him of confidence.
"It's a relief," he said of the surgery.
"It gives your confidence a bit of a whack every week when you go out there doubting yourself on the field.
"Now it's right and out of the way I can concentrate on playing some good footy next year."
Tigers doctor Donald Kuah confirmed he expected recovery time from the surgery to be three months, clearing the way for a round-one return.
"There are different levels of back surgery - no back surgery would be considered minor - but this is probably on the lower scale as far as back surgery goes," Kuah said.
Farah's immediate concern is getting back on to the field, but he could do so with the "c" beside his name.
The Tigers have yet to announce who will replace Brett Hodgson as captain, with Farah and recently appointed Kiwis skipper Benji Marshall the most likely candidates.
"I'd love nothing more than to captain the Tigers," Farah said.
"It would be a massive honour. I'm a Tigers junior and have been at the club for my whole career.
"I'm more worried about getting myself right and if other things go my way I'll worry about that then."
One of Farah's other goals is securing the NSW No.9 jumper vacated by Danny Buderus.
"Every year, those things are in the back of your mind," he said.
"I've got short-term goals I want to achieve before I want to worry about those bigger things.
"I'm sure if I get myself fit and playing some good footy again, everything else will look after itself."
The Tigers already face a battle to retain Farah beyond next season.
The City rake is off contract at the end of 2009 and his manager, Sam Ayoub, has already fielded interest from three rival NRL clubs.
"I've been a bit overwhelmed by the interest in him already," Ayoub said.