Leeds Rhinos were dealt another major injury blow in the first half of the Easter double-header after scans revealed they will be without fullback Jack Walker for the next eight weeks. It is the latest frustrating setback for Walker, who had started the season well after recovering from almost two years on the sidelines following a litany of injury issues.
With no Richie Myler for the next two to three weeks, it leaves Leeds without a recognised number one to their name for the foreseeable future, including for this weekend's huge clash against bottom side Toulouse Olympique on Friday night.
But beyond that, there are yet more big games which Walker will be unavailable for, handing the next Leeds coach a major selection headache.
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As well as the Toulouse game, Walker will also be missing for next Friday's home match with Hull Kingston Rovers before Leeds have one of two free weekends during Walker's rehabilitation, owing to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup taking place across the city at Elland Road.
That is, from Walker's perspective at least, one small positive: that the eight weeks of his recovery period include two free weekends for the Rhinos, with the final of the competition taking place on Saturday 28 May at Tottenham.
Leeds play twice in May in Super League though, and they are both hugely important encounters, with games against Salford Red Devils and Wakefield Trinity, two of the teams closest to the Rhinos in the Super League table as things stand. They are just three points behind both of those teams heading out of the Easter period.
June then begins with back-to-back away games against Warrington Wolves and Huddersfield Giants, but Leeds then don't play again until the 23rd of the month, when they face Super League champions St Helens.
By then, the hope and expectation is that Walker will be back to full fitness and available for selection - but it will be fascinating to see what sort of side the fullback returns into as Leeds aim to drag themselves away from an unexpected relegation battle.
