NAT Fyfe looks to have escaped serious damage to the right shoulder he injured in the dying stages of Tuesday's International Rules practice match in Sydney.
But the gun Fremantle midfielder will sit out Saturday's Test against Ireland at Patersons Stadium as a precaution.
The injury happened when Fyfe was diving for a mark late in the game against a New South Wales Gaelic team in western Sydney.
He hurt his right shoulder, which is classified as his "good" one given the two operations he has previously needed on his left side.
Fyfe was due to participate in his first International Rules campaign, and in front of his home crowd in Perth.
But Australian team management and medical staff decided it was not worth risking any player on the eve of the pre-season.
In 2010, then-Geelong forward Travis Varcoe missed three months of pre-season after needing surgery on the shoulder he injured in a practice match in Ireland while on the International Rules tour.
Damien Hardwick says Gold Coast will carefully manage its rising stars through the season
Voss backs key Blues despite injury concerns
Key Carlton duo Jacob Weitering and Zac Williams have been named for Carlton's clash against Geelong despite injury concerns
Squads for Young Guns v Vic Country match announced
Many of Victoria’s top prospects eligible for selection in this year’s AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft will again be in action this weekend in the second game of the 2024 Young Guns Series
Stream your team: Watch VFL, VFLW, SANFL and WAFL games LIVE and FREE
You can watch every game of the 2024 VFL, VFLW, SANFL and WAFL seasons LIVE on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App