Stephen Crichton will miss consecutive NRL matches through injury for the first time in his 146-game career after failing to recover from a shoulder issue for round seven.
It comes as depleted Parramatta received even more bad news, with Sean Russell to remain sidelined from Sunday's clash against Canterbury.
Bulldogs captain Crichton suffered a grade-five AC joint injury on Good Friday, but participated in contact training this week and was listed in Cameron Ciraldo's extended squad.
Ciraldo put paid to hopes of a rapid recovery when he ruled Crichton out on Saturday morning.
"He just pulled up a bit short this week. Hopefully he'll be ready for next Friday," the Canterbury coach said.
"If it was a grand final he'd push himself to be ready.
"But it's only early in the season and we want to make sure he's ready for the rest of the season. He's got a big year ahead of him."
Since making his NRL debut for Penrith in August of 2019, Crichton has never previously missed two consecutive games through injury.
"He ticks every box in his preparation and leaves no stone unturned. That's why he's such a great leader for us," Ciraldo said.
"But these things happen, injuries happen."
Ciraldo has warned fearsome forward Leo Thompson not to over-exert himself when he returns from his calf injury for a Bulldogs club debut.
The ex-Newcastle prop comes into the front row as a direct replacement for Max King, who suffered a broken jaw in last week's upset win over the Panthers.
"I don't want (Thompson) to want to bring too much tomorrow, I just want him to build his game and do what he does well and that's the real simple stuff," Ciraldo said.
"His game will evolve over the next four or five weeks."
Middle forward Saxon Pryke is locked in to become the Eels' third NRL debutant through seven rounds following Apa Twidle and Araz Nanva.
Nanva is likely to earn a second NRL cap in the backline as Russell becomes the 13th Eels player sidelined from the CommBank Stadium clash.
Russell failed to pull up from the concussion he suffered against Wests Tigers on Easter Monday, but is expected to be fit for round eight.
Battling injury carnage and the fallout of last week's 52-10 thrashing from Gold Coast, coach Jason Ryles said moments like telling Pryke of his NRL debut were keeping the Eels upbeat.
"Sometimes you get dealt a hand of cards in the game. That's what we sign up for. Seeing the pride in Saxon and his family today makes it worthwhile in a lot of ways," he said.
"Seeing those guys get their opportunity, it changes their life.
"Whilst that energy is in and around the group, it's not that hard to get up each week."
EELS INJURY LIST
J'Maine Hopgood (knee), Matt Doorey (knee), Bailey Simonsson (ankle), Isaiah Iongi (ankle), Jonah Pezet (hamstring), Apa Twidle (shoulder), Jordan Samrani (knee), Richard Penisini (knee), Kitione Kautoga (knee), Sam Tuiviaiti (concussion), Kelma Tuilagi (concussion), Sean Russell (concussion), Lincoln Fletcher (hamstring).
