Marshall set to sign $4m deal to stay with Tigers Life decision: Benji Marshall would play out his career at the Tigers under the upgraded deal. Wests Tigers five-eighth Benji Marshall is poised to sign one of the biggest deals in the NRL. Marshall could agree to an upgrade of his contract - which expires at the end of next season - as early as this week, while club officials and the player's management are also advanced in negotiations to extend his contract until the end of 2017. The total package is expected to be about $4 million over five years. Tigers officials, including chief executive Stephen Humphreys, chairman Mike Bailey and deputy chair Nick Di Girolamo, are to meet with Marshall's manager Martin Tauber on Wednesday. It is believed both parties are hoping to finalise the contract upgrade at that meeting, while also pressing ahead with discussions over the extension. The upgrade is effectively the result of a handshake agreement between Humphreys and Tauber in 2010 to renegotiate his then four-year deal in line with any salary cap increases. With the players having agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement earlier this year on the back of the new broadcast rights deal, it is understood Di Girolamo, the then chairman, approached Tauber about honouring the commitment and then ensuring Marshall was a Tigers player for life. "Whilst we didn't have any formal commitment, it was certainly a commitment that we made, and we are honouring," Humphreys said of the 2010 agreement. These conversations are based on that and are designed to bring him to the right place in the new world. Of the talks to secure Marshall until 2017, Humphreys said: "Both parties would like Benji to be a Wests Tigers player for his entire career. Benji said at a function on Saturday night that he couldn't imagine playing against the Tigers. Whether we do that now or at some later time ... everyone would like to see Benji be a Wests Tigers player for his entire career. If we can make that happen now, great. Marshall had signed a four-year deal early in 2010 which was billed as a life-time deal. But, now 28, his latest contract, which has been the subject of ongoing negotiations for several months, would confirm him as a one-club player. The development comes just weeks after captain Robbie Farah signed a four-year deal, which will ensure the hooker is a Tiger for life. While the Tigers are in the middle of one of the worst injury crises in the club's history, and the team has slumped to just two wins from the opening seven rounds, having the two key players secured long-term will give the club an enormous boost. Marshall is sidelined with "turf toe," and while he is not likely to return until round nine, the Kiwi international maintains he is still a slight chance of playing against Canterbury on Friday night at ANZ Stadium. He has only completed light running and is unlikely to be named on Tuesday, but still wants to play. The Tigers' injury woes are so severe that the club may be forced to apply to the NRL for salary cap exemptions so coach Michael Potter can call on second-tier talent. Tim Moltzen, who was moved to halfback to replace the injured Braith Anasta (groin), will have surgery on Tuesday after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in Saturday night's loss to Brisbane. Centres Blake Ayshford (ankle syndesmosis) and Chris Lawrence (hamstring) are expected to be out for up to six weeks each. Forward Matt Bell, who suffered a hand injury at training in the lead-up to the clash with the Broncos, is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks following surgery this week. There has been one positive on the injury front. Winger Marika Koroibete has overcome a foot injury and is likely to play against the Bulldogs. Jacob Miller, who started the season as the club's first-choice halfback but was dropped after round four, trained with the top squad at halfback on Monday. Potter is still to decide whether to blood under-20s player Luke Brooks against the Bulldogs.