The Canberra Raiders have been dealt a massive pre-season blow with star fullback Xavier Savage set to spend eight weeks on the sideline with a broken jaw.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart will have just his one remaining pre-season trial to settle on who will wear the No.1 jersey against the North Queensland Cowboys in round one.
Canberra co-captain Jarrod Croker felt Jordan Rapana would be the obvious short-term replacement, while Stuart also had Albert Hopoate and Harley Smith-Shields as other options.