Hockeyroos co-captain Brooke Peris will miss the upcoming World Cup and Commonwealth Games after being one of three players struck down by untimely injuries.
Peris (thigh) and defender Meg Pearce (foot) have both been ruled out of Australia's World Cup campaign, which begins against Japan in Spain on Saturday night (Sunday morning AEST).
The injury to Peris, which occurred in a practice match, will also see her miss the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
Pearce wasn't part of the Commonwealth Games squad, but her World Cup dreams are now over.
The bad news keeps coming for the Hockeyroos, with 21-year-old midfielder Courtney Schonell also ruled out of the Commonwealth Games after suffering a knee injury in a recent lead-up match.
The loss of Peris is a particular blow to the Hockeyroos given she was only one of two players named for the Birmingham Games with more than 100 caps to their name.
Greta Hayes and Renee Taylor will replace Peris and Pearce in the Hockeyroos' 18-player World Cup squad.
The replacements for Peris and Schonell in the Hockeyroos' Commonwealth Games squad are yet to be determined.
"The Hockeyroos are devastated three of their teammates have had to withdraw on the eve of the World Cup and Commonwealth Games," Hockey Australia high performance director Bernard Savage said.
"Our first concern has been for the health and wellbeing of Brooke, Meg and Courtney and managing their disappointment.
"We are working to put in place comprehensive rehabilitation plans for the injured trio and look forward to seeing them back fit and healthy."
"We have full confidence in both Renee and Greta and the World Cup squad is clearly focused on the job at hand which is their first match on Saturday evening local time."
