NBL superstar Chris Goulding is expected to miss two weeks with the calf injury he suffered in Melbourne United's last game.
Olympic bronze medallist Goulding was substituted out after hurting his right calf dishing up an assist to Rob Loe in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 101-98 win over the Sydney Kings.
In-form Goulding is one of the NBL's most damaging three-point shooters, so his injury threatens to scupper ladder-leading United with the regular season now past its halfway point.
United (11-4) revealed on Tuesday that Goulding would likely return in round 13, so is tracking to miss four games with his injury.
"Obviously disappointed for him, he's playing basketball at such an elite level. When you're doing that, you just want to keep playing more games," said United coach Dean Vickerman.
Development player Campbell Blogg will replace Goulding in United's squad for the upcoming stretch, which begins against the New Zealand Breakers on Thursday.
Vickerman expected second-unit wing Tanner Krebs would receive more game time in Goulding's absence.
"Tanner's been there sitting there supporting CG all year so we think it's a wonderful opportunity for him to see more minutes," he said.
"(But) any time you lose 30 minutes from a player like CG, it's going to have to be an effort from everybody."
Notably, Goulding will sit out next weekend's clash with the Illawarra Hawks, whose coach Justin Tatum memorably accused Goulding of flopping in the crucial dying stages of the sides' last meeting.
The Breakers are sweating on the fitness of ex-NBA big man Tacko Fall and Dane Pineau after the pair suffered knee injuries in Sunday's loss to the Perth Wildcats.
The tallest player ever to feature in the NBL, 229cm-tall Fall limped heavily coming from the court after twisting his left knee in a contest for the ball during the first half.
Travel from Perth delayed assessments on he and Pineau, but the Breakers are expected to provide an update imminently.
Sydney hope to have Bul Kuol available for Sunday's match against the Breakers after the wing was substituted out of the loss to United with a knee issue.
"The South Sudanese international will be monitored this week, with the plan for him to take the court against New Zealand on Sunday," the Kings said in a statement to AAP.
