Clint Gutherson has undergone knee surgery and will miss at least a month in a blow to Parramatta's hopes of reinvigorating their faltering NRL season.
The Eels had been managing their skipper for weeks as he sought to shake off the minor complaint but he will now join injured halfback Mitch Moses on the sidelines.
The blow is also set to rule Gutherson out of contention for a NSW berth in the State of Origin series opener on June 5.
The 29-year-old played from the bench in the third match last year and could have been an option for a similar utility role this time.
"The Eels co-captain has undergone a minor operation on his knee and will be unavailable for 4-5 weeks," a Parramatta club statement read.
Gutherson will be unavailable for a tough stretch in the Eels' draw. They face Brisbane, Melbourne and Cronulla in the next five weeks, all of whom have begun 2024 in form.
The injury comes amid scrutiny as to Brad Arthur's future in charge of Parramatta, who have slipped from runners-up in 2022 to 14th on the ladder through eight rounds this year.
It also compounds pressure on stand-in halfback Dylan Brown to spark the Eels following four losses in the five games since Moses fractured his foot in March.
Parramatta have the bye in round nine but will return to face the Broncos at CommBank Stadium on May 10, with Blaize Talagi likely to step in as replacement fullback.
Talagi, who made his NRL debut in March, was earmarked by Arthur earlier this month as a possible long-term successor to Gutherson in the No.1 jersey.