BRISBANE Lions have been dealt a savage blow with in-form Irishman Pearce Hanley set to miss at least two weeks with a fractured hand.
Hanley sustained the injury in the Lions' 19-point win over Melbourne on Saturday night.
He will undergo surgery on Tuesday night and will miss two to four weeks.
General manager of football operations Dean Warren said Hanley was disappointed by the setback.
"Pearce has been one of our most consistent performers this season," Warren said.
"His absence, however, provides an opportunity for one of our young developing players to gain further senior experience."
Hanley has been arguably the Lions best player in 2013 and his loss is a huge blow for Sunday's must-win game against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.
The Lions are expected to regain the services of co-captain Jonathan Brown (hip), Brent Moloney (calf) and Mitch Golby (quad) to offset Hanley's loss.
Michael Whiting is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting
