South Sydney will be without influential five-eighth John Sutton for up to four weeks, after scans confirmed the NRL star's injury as a left ankle sprain.
Sutton hobbled off during the Rabbitohs' 30-12 loss to North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday and was wearing a moonboot upon his return to Sydney.
The club on Monday said the injury would rule Sutton out for two to four weeks - suggesting a possible timely return at least a week before the finals in September.
"John will be missed but we know he will manage his injury professionally and our medical team will work with him to have him return to the field as soon as possible in the best shape possible," coach Michael Maguire said in a statement.
Maguire flagged youngster Luke Keary as Sutton's likely replacement ahead of Friday's blockbuster against Melbourne at AAMI Park.
The Rabbitohs will head south sitting second behind the Sydney Roosters on the NRL ladder, having lost two of their past three matches.
"We'll announce our team tomorrow, but Luke Keary has done a good job coming on as a replacement at five-eighth in recent weeks and we're confident in his ability to get the job done while John is on the sidelines."
Sutton joins fullback Greg Inglis on the club's injury list, the Queensland and Australian representative still recovering from a knee injury suffered in last month's State of Origin decider.
