Albion Park-Oak Flats' prospects of a third straight Group Seven crown have nosedived with captain-coach Jade Lucas in doubt for the rest of the season.
Lucas is on crutches after undergoing surgery twice in two days on an infected knee.
The prop will consult his doctor tomorrow to determine the extent of his recovery period.
"It might be only two weeks, but I could be gone for the year," Lucas said.
The Eagles have endured their worst injury crisis in several years and are in danger of slipping out of the top five.
Equal-first earlier this month, they have lost two straight to be sharing fifth spot heading into Sunday's home game against Shoalhaven.
"Our numbers are down and we're not getting any troops back this week," Lucas said.
"Our backs are against the wall and Shoalhaven will be a big test. It's a game we need to win."
Lucas' injury troubles trace back to a corked knee six weeks ago.
He managed it from week to week with ice but was plagued by swelling and fluid build-up.
After copping a seemingly innocuous cut in the loss to Milton-Ulladulla a fortnight ago, his knee "blew-up".
"I went into hospital and they opened it up and drained it, but then they had to do it all over again 48 hours later because of all the scar tissue and junk in there," he said.
"It basically all stemmed from the cork six weeks ago, because the actual cut was really tiny and it just got badly infected. It's been a shocker of a season for the club with injuries and this just adds to the frustration. It's another setback we'll have to try and fight through."