Mitch Moses will miss the first six weeks of the NRL season with a foot injury in a blow to Parramatta's new era under Jason Ryles.
Moses was a surprise omission on Tuesday from the Eels' round-one team to face Melbourne, revealed as suffering a stress reaction in the same left foot he injured last season.
The Eels sought independent medical advice before determining Moses would wear a moon boot in the coming weeks and return against former side Wests Tigers on Easter Monday.
Clashes against 2024 finalists Manly and Canterbury are among the six fixtures he is expected to miss.
The setback will be frustrating for Moses, who recently signed a new long-term deal with the Eels and was appointed club captain by highly touted new head coach Ryles.
Moses would also have been hoping to use the opening rounds of the competition to affirm his State of Origin credentials.
The 30-year-old was halfback in the two wins that sealed last year's Origin series for NSW, but a fit-again Nathan Cleary is set to put pressure on the Eel to keep his spot.
Former Rabbitoh and Moses's understudy Dean Hawkins is sidelined with a calf injury, leaving the Eels to seek dispensation from the NRL to play Ronald Volkman in the halves to face the Storm.
Ordinarily, a player on a train-and-trial deal like Volkman is unable to be selected before round 11.
It looms as a big opportunity for Volkman, who spent the past year in rugby league limbo after being released from his St George Illawarra deal due to a pre-existing injury.
Hawkins is expected back to partner Dylan Brown in the halves for the round-two clash against the Tigers.
