HIS immediate goal is to get back on the field, but Anthony Minichiello's ultimate ambition is to captain the tricolours.

Minichiello has ticked most boxes in a glittering nine-year career in the top grade, with the highlights including being part of the Roosters' 2002 premiership side and earning the Golden Boot in 2005.

But the former Kangaroos fullback says the one thing missing from his CV is the Roosters captaincy. "I'd love to be captain of the club," Minichiello told The Sun-Herald .

"I've been there since '97 but I'll have to see what happens. I love the club and I've reached every other goal I've set, but this would be the ultimate goal: to captain the club."

The Roosters will have a number of impressive candidates to take over as skipper when Craig Fitzgibbon moves on. Former Bulldogs Willie Mason, Braith Anasta and Mark O'Meley also have strong claims to the role. However, they might have to wait at least another season, as the in-form Fitzgibbon is tipped to sign a one-year extension this week.

"There has been frequent dialogue with his manager and we'll pick up the pieces on Monday," Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan said.

"The club is very keen to have Craig Fitzgibbon run around in our jersey next year, but we're giving him and all of our Origin players a chance to have some time off until then. We won't be contacting our players unless it's an emergency, but I'm quite happy to take Craig Fitzgibbon's call if he wanted to tell me he's staying."

News Minichiello wants to take over as skipper is likely to be welcomed by Roosters fans and officials, who feared the worst when his latest back and neck problems flared last month. The 28-year-old is likely to be sidelined for at least another month after scans revealed a bulging disc in his neck.

The injury is similar to the one Andrew Johns recovered from late in his career. However, the pain Minichiello has been suffering down his arm has eased in recent days. "It's coming along nicely, although a little slowly," Minichiello said. "I've got to wait until [the pain] goes away and then I can look at doing more at training, but I'm getting there.

"They have no doubts I will be back on the field, it's just when will be the right time … Joey struggled with his for two or three years and he had two discs there - I've only got one."

Asked if he had feared his career would end prematurely, he said: "Not really. I knew I had a sore neck but I was preparing to play a couple of weeks ago. At the final session they came out and pulled me off the field - it was frustrating."