Huddersfield forward Larne Patrick will miss the next 12 weeks of the 2014 Super League season after suffering a serious knee injury against Wigan.
Scans confirmed that the 25-year-old back-rower/prop dislocated his knee cap and damaged his medial ligaments in Friday's 24-8 victory at DW Stadium.
Coach Paul Anderson admitted some of the gloss of the Giants' season-opener had been taken off by the injury to the Patrick, who had to be stretchered off just before half time.
Anderson said: "It's a shame it wasn't such a good night for Larne. We've got the best medical staff in the competition, so we know he'll get the right treatment."
Hudderfield's next Super League fixture sees the visit of Craig Sandercock's Hull Kingston Rovers to the John Smith's Stadium on February 23 before a trip to Widnes the following Friday.
"Twelve weeks isn't great but could have been a lot worse! Thanks again everyone for your support," Patrick wrote on social media.
"Staying on the positive side... Amazing to have so many messages off fans from different clubs."
The forward made 24 Super League appearances for the 2013 League Leader's Shield winners last season, amassing four tries.