The Western Bulldogs will have to start their AFLW comeback without injured midfield duo Deanna Berry and Isabelle Pritchard.
Just as former captain Ellie Blackburn prepares to make her long-awaited return from injury, her successor Berry will miss the opening three matches of the 12-round season after hurting her left hamstring.
Pritchard, the club's reigning best and fairest winner, won't feature until round two after injuring the patella in her left knee.
"During training, Pritch entered a contest and her left knee was forced into an awkward position," club physiotherapist Olivia Dawson said in a statement.
"De sustained a hamstring injury during a high-speed effort at training, with scans confirming the diagnosis and informing her recovery timeline."
The Bulldogs will be out to make their first finals appearance since 2022 after winning only four of 11 games last year.
Blackburn, named as one of the club's 25 greatest players of the last century, shapes as an essential figure for their chances this season after missing most of last season with a foot injury.
Second-year coach Tamara Hyett's side will shake off the rust when they take on reigning premiers North Melbourne on Friday in a pre-season simulation, with the AFLW season to get underway on August 14.
