JETS captain Nigel Boogaard has vowed to go "above and beyond" to get back on the field in four weeks. His future beyond this season remains unclear.
Boogaard, 34, revealed on Tuesday that he has a fractured fibula in his left leg.
"I thought it was a knock but it is a bit more than that," Boogaard said. "The fracture is towards the top of the fibula. You don't put a lot of weight through it so hopefully I can get on the park as soon as possible. Hopefully it is only four weeks."
The injury could not have come at a worse time for the strugglers, who have lost five games on the bounce. They host Western United on Monday, one of five games Boogaard is expected to miss.
"It's never a good thing, that is why I am so conscious about going above and beyond to get back onto the park," Boogaard said. "I want to be contributing at training and games and helping turn things around."
Boogaard is one of nine senior players off contract at the end of the season.
"It is the strongest I have felt in a while and that is down to having a solid pre-season," Boogaard said. "It will be a discussion I need to have with the coach and the training staff at the end of the season.
"Right now it is in the back of my mind. I have to concentrate on what I can do to get back on the park as quick as possible, and how I can help the team while I'm not training or involved in games."
Lachy Jackson replaced Boogaard in the heart of defence in the 2-1 loss to Perth on Saturday.
"It was a tough assignment and he is only going to build from that," Boogaard said. "Match fitness, timing, communication and all that stuff comes with games on the field. It's not an area where we have great depth, so touch wood there are no more injuries."
