Catalans Dragons' former Australia Test forward Greg Bird will be sidelined for up to eight weeks after breaking a thumb in Friday's pre-season friendly against Toulouse in Perpignan.
A spokesman for the France-based Super League club said the 34-year-old former NSW State of Origin representative had scans on Monday and does not need surgery but will be out of action for between four and eight weeks.
Bird is in his second stint for Catalans, the first of which came between spells in NRL with Cronulla Sharks, and Gold Coast Titans.
It is a setback for the Catalans, who kick off their campaign at Castleford on Friday, but they are not on their own.
Castleford and Warrington have lost half-backs Luke Gale and Kevin Brown to season-ending Achilles injuries sustained in training while Wigan could be without Grand Final hero Dom Manfredi for Thursday's opening game at St Helens because of knee injury.
In addition, Huddersfield will be without winger Jermaine McGillvary and Wakefield will be missing another Australian forward in Pauli Pauli for the start of the season with hamstring and knee injuries picked up in pre-season friendlies.
