Hopoate to miss month with fractured eye

Canterbury fullback Will Hopoate will miss the next four to six NRL rounds with a fractured eye socket.

Bulldogs fullback Will Hopoate will miss the next four to six NRL rounds with a fractured eye socket (AAP)

Canterbury's backline has been plunged into an early-season injury crisis with Will Hopoate and Kerrod Holland ruled out for at least a month.

The Bulldogs confirmed Hopoate (fractured eye) and Holland (shoulder) were set to miss four to six weeks after being injured in Thursday night's bruising NRL loss to the Sydney Roosters.

Hopoate was taken to hospital after a nasty head collision with Zane Tetevano in the second half, with scans revealing he was set for an extended stint on the sidelines.

Winger Holland injured his AC joint, scoring the side's first try, meaning Hasler would be on the lookout for a new kicker.

Brett Morris is likely to move to fullback for Hopoate, with highly rated youngster Marcelo Montoya, Reimis Smith and Tyrone Phillips in the running to come into the starting side.