Wheelhouse has tendon enthesopathy, which is inflammation and changing of the tendon where it attaches to the bone on both groins.

Teammate Tarek Elrich has suffered a similar, albeit more severe, problem for 18 months and will undergo surgery today.

Wheelhouse required injections in the lead-up to both finals games, but now the campaign is over he hopes a program of rest and physiotherapy will be enough to recuperate.

"If I need an operation it's only 10 weeks to get both done and be back running," Wheelhouse said.

"It is not a massive time out of the game, but I don't want to get any more surgery if I don't have to. My body has had enough as it is.

"I have to ring [groin specialist] Neil Halpin tomorrow but I'm pretty sure he will just confirm what I already know.

"At this stage, the plan is to give it a rest for four weeks. After that I will test it out, train three days in row, and if it pulls up lame I will have to get it done."

The injury had progressed to the point where Wheelhouse struggled to walk the day after playing.

During games his passing and agility was restricted.

"With injection after injection, trying to back up after each game probably hasn't made it any better," Wheelhouse said.

"But Neil assured me that I couldn't do much more damage."

Wheelhouse, 25, stormed onto the national league scene as a teenager but his career stalled after a series of ankle injuries, which required four operations.

He was used as "Mr Fix-it" last year under Gary van Egmond, playing 16 games in a variety of roles.

But this season, after a late start due to an ankle injury, Branko Culina used him solely in midfield and he has developed into a central figure.

"I had a bit more responsibility once Fabio Vignaroli was ruled out for the season," Wheelhouse said. "Someone had to take on that role.

"We had a really good year and hopefully we can keep the nucleus together and build for next year.

"It seems to always happen that we have a decent year and then lose a lot of players.

"There is a lot of potential at the club. There always has been with the young players coming through. I think what we do need is a couple of experienced heads."

Meanwhile, the Jets are expected to table an offer to Iraq international Ali Abbas today.