Resurgent Penrith have been dealt a blow with confirmation veteran hooker Peter Wallace will be sidelined for up to six weeks with a groin injury.
Five-eighth Bryce Cartwright is likely to join him on the sideline, with the struggling playmaker suffering a knee injury that could require surgery.
Scans for Wallace on Monday revealed a grade two adductor tear, which also ruled him out of a dream recall to the NSW State of Origin team.
It was widely tipped that Wallace, who famously played with a ruptured testicle in his last Origin appearance in 2009, was going to be named on Monday.
However he is set to miss up to four NRL games for the Panthers, who have two byes scheduled over the next six weeks.
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Former St George Illawarra rake Mitch Rein is certain to come into contention to make his first appearance with the Panthers since moving over the summer.
Cartwright's scans showed the makeshift pivot had torn a lateral meniscus in his left knee, and has been booked to a see a surgeon later this week.
It is believed he hurt the knee in the first half of Sunday's win over Newcastle, but tried to play on in the second half before eventually coming off.
His latest setback comes after he missed seven games earlier this year with a niggling ankle injury he aggravated in round two.
"He's just got to push through that, that's footy. Hopefully there's nothing too serious there, but he'll come good," coach Anthony Griffin said.
Cartwright's likely absence is set to open the door for Te Maire Martin to be called back into the first grade side, a month after being dropped to NSW Cup.
Martin had recently been linked with a move to the Wests Tigers and Warriors, speculation which was quashed by Griffin last week.
The Panthers have the bye this week before facing Canterbury in round 13.
