Huddersfield Giants prop Craig Huby will miss the start of the 2016 First Utility Super League season with a broken wrist.
The former Castleford Tigers forward, who was an ever-present in his first season with the Giants in 2015, has undergone surgery and could be sidelined for 12 weeks after sustaining the injury in pre-season training.
Huddersfield coach Paul Anderson said: “Craig damaged his wrist in training a couple of weeks ago before Christmas and there was some substantial damage that required surgery so it is going to be a 12-week injury and he will miss the first month to six weeks of the season.
“Craig is a very good player so it is disappointing to lose him at any point, especially for a substantial period like this, but one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity.
“We have got some talented forwards in the squad and so we have got to adapt and be able to get on with it.”
Huddersfield are already a man short after selling England second rower Brett Ferres to Leeds Rhinos for an undisclosed fee.