Ryan Matterson's early-season NRL ban is set to prove even more costly for Parramatta, with Shaun Lane and Matt Doorey both injured in their 36-14 NRL pre-season win over Newcastle.
Already feeling the pinch of a back-row exodus from last season and Matterson's decision to take a three-match ban from a crusher tackle in last year's grand final over a $4000 fine, Parramatta's pain continued on Friday night.
Lane lasted seven minutes in his first hit-out of the year in Gosford before he was left clutching at his jaw after copping a shoulder from Daniel Saifiti while attempting a tackle.
The second-rower was taken for scans, with the Eels' season opener against Melbourne less than two weeks away.
Making matters worse for Parramatta, Matterson's likely replacement Doorey limped from the field early in the second half with an ankle injury.
The Eels are hopeful the injury is not serious, but any setback would be a concern given their situation.
Star backrower Isaiah Papali'i also left for Wests Tigers at the end of last season, while Marata Niukore has moved to the Warriors.
Bryce Cartwright would have been an option to replace Lane if he is out for the start of the season, but he is also battling to come back from a jaw injury.
That could leave Jack Murchie and Jirah Momoisea to join recruit J'maine Hopgood in the back row against Melbourne, if Parramatta receive the worst news on injuries.
"I'm not sure on the severity of it all, but we just have to try and back the depth here and the next-man-up mentality," Hopgood said.
"If you get that jersey then you just have to try and do it with pride and try and make it yours for however long you can."
The setbacks soured what was otherwise an impressive performance.
The in-demand Mitch Moses did his contract value no harm, putting on one of the plays of the match as the Eels took control of the game in the first half.
Running the ball out of his own half, he dummied his way through Kalyn Ponga and put Dylan Brown over.
Clint Gutherson also scored a try after kicking the ball twice in the lead-up, while Murchie helped his selection chances when he ran onto a ball from Jake Arthur to score.
Ponga's mishap in the lead-up to the Brown try came as he missed four tackles in the first half in his return to the frontline at five-eighth before being rested in the second.
But he did manage to put Bradman Best over when he ran the ball out of dummy-half, putting on a short ball for the centre who broke through four defenders to score.
Off-contract Knights winger Dominic Young also scored a try, while Lachlan Miller showed promise at fullback.
