Australia's fast bowling stocks have suffered another blow with former Test paceman Ben Hilfenhaus to miss up to a month with the recurrence of a side strain.
Hilfenhaus opened the bowling on day two of Tasmania's Sheffield Shield clash with NSW at Bellerive but managed just five overs for figures of 0-12 before he was forced to leave the ground.
The 30-year-old underwent a MRI scan on Saturday afternoon, revealing a mild strain related to a rib problem Hilfenhaus has carried throughout his career.
He will miss two-four weeks after also breaking down with a similar problem during the last of his 27 Tests, in Hobart against Sri Lanka 12 months ago.
"He's had this rib problem, I reckon, since he first started playing and he generally gets his way through it," Tigers coach Dan Marsh said.
"It's not as bad as last year, we think."
Australia's pacemen have been ravaged by injury in recent seasons and Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Pat Cummins all remain unavailable for national selection.
Hilfenhaus, with 99 Test wickets at an average of 28.50, had managed just five scalps in three Shield games before the clash with the Blues.
He was rested for Tasmania's home loss to Victoria two weeks ago and went wicketless in their next match, a draw with South Australia in Adelaide.
Marsh said the Shield schedule, with six games squashed between the one-day series and Big Bash League, was taking its toll on the quicks.
"We haven't played the same fast bowling group in back-to-back games because it's just proving very difficult to do," he said.
"I'm hoping next year we get a bit more of a break between games."
NSW young gun Kurtis Patterson (52no) and paceman Trent Copeland (54no) were leading a fightback as the Blues reached 5-200 at stumps in reply to Tasmania's first innings of 354.
The pair put on 98 after their side had been 5-102, 20-year-old Patterson making his first Shield 50 since becoming the youngest player to score a Shield century two years ago on debut.
"To see him get runs in these situations, where there's a bit of pressure on ... that's got to do wonders for him," said Blues spinner and ex-skipper Steve O'Keefe who will begin on a hat-trick after taking 4-74 to mop up the Tigers' tail.
"He's a special talent."
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