Early NBL frontrunners Cairns have been whacked by another injury blow, with key centre Nate Jawai ruled out for 12 weeks after tearing a ligament in his foot.
Jawai had shed more than 5kg since off-season shoulder surgery and shaped as an easy avenue to points for the Taipans this season.
But he limped off in the second quarter of the Snakes' season opener against Illawarra, scans revealing a tear that will require surgery.
A mid-January return would see him miss at least 13 rounds of a 19-round season.
Cairns were already dealing with the absence of injured import Michael Carrera (knee) for up to six weeks.
But last year's semi-finalists managed to put both setbacks aside to beat Illawarra at home and New Zealand away to finish round one on top of the table.
Jawai became the first indigenous Australian to play in the NBA after a standout rookie season with the Taipans 10 years ago.
The 31-year-old, in his third season back in the NBL and second with Cairns, had 12 points and four rebounds before suffering the injury.
"Nate's a huge part of the team; it really sucks for him," captain Cameron Gliddon said.
"We know what he can do and he's worked really hard to get fit after shoulder surgery and was saying he felt great up and down the court."
Alex Loughton and Stephen Weigh stepped up in the opening week with game-winning efforts and Cairns' depth will again be tested in their home clash with Adelaide on Thursday.
"Having that impact off the bench means you go in with so much confidence; it's something we have over the other teams," Gliddon said.
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