WARRINGTON WOLVES back Josh Thewlis will be sidelined for between four and six weeks after having ankle surgery.
Thewlis, typically a winger although he has made the majority of his appearances this season at fullback, suffered an injury last month in a victory over Catalans Dragons.
The 24-year-old has now been under the knife and will miss much of Warrington’s run-in.
Back-rower Sam Stone has also had a setback with his recovery from a hamstring injury, having not appeared since May’s Challenge Cup semi-final loss to Hull KR, and could also miss the next month.
But there is also good news for the Wolves, with Cai Taylor-Wray, Joe Philbin and Jordy Crowther all in contention to return from injuries for Saturday’s visit of Hull KR.
Fullback Taylor-Wray hasn’t appeared since April because of an ankle injury, and has played just six times all year.
“Cai’s had a lot of complications with this injury,” said coach Sam Burgess.
”What was a four-to-six-week injury has turned into twelve weeks and that’s tough for him to accept and for us as a squad.
“He’s there or thereabouts now so it’s making sure we’re not rushing him at this stage, especially considering Josh is out for a bit now.
“When he comes back in, we hope that’s the last of it for him and he’ll have a bit of energy for the back end of the season.”
Loose-forward Ben Currie has been declared fit to play this weekend after dislocating a finger in last Friday’s loss to Wigan Warriors.