Prop Luke Thompson will miss the World Club Challenge against Penrith after suffering a concussion in Wigan's first game of the Super League season.
Wigan's 32-4 defeat of Castleford on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) was Lancashire-born Thompson's first regular-season match since returning home from an injury-plagued four years with Canterbury in the NRL.
The prop failed a head injury assessment after coming off in the opening 20 minutes and will be unavailable for February 24's annual match between the NRL and Super League premiers.
"It's a blow," Wigan coach Matt Peet said in his post-match press conference.
"The way he started the game and in pre-season, he was looking excellent.
"But his health has to come first. He's taken a whack on the head.
"It's the right thing for the player (to miss the game)."
Ex-NRL prop Kaide Ellis and halfback Harry Smith are also in doubt after being penalised for a high tackle and dangerous throw respectively against Castleford.
The pair are set to learn their fate from the match review panel on Monday local time.
Thompson's concussion comes as the Warriors hatch plans to neutralise the NRL's best middle forward rotation at their DW Stadium, which kicks off at 7am on Sunday AEDT.
The prop forward played the Panthers three times across his 42 appearances for the Bulldogs.
Three-time reigning premiers Penrith arrived in England last week and are preparing to chase the only major trophy that has eluded them.
After COVID-19 complications led the 2022 edition to be cancelled, the Panthers lost last year's World Club Challenge against St Helens.
Neither the 1991 nor 2003 premiership sides won the clash with their English counterparts.
