Exeter Chiefs will be without England star Jack Nowell for the start of their Aviva Premiership campaign.
The 23-year-old utility back will be sidelined for up to 10 weeks after undergoing surgery on a thumb injury.
Nowell, who was a member of the England team that won 3-0 against Australia in the summer, has been ruled out of the Chiefs' three pre-season games and also looks set to miss a number of league matches.
Exeter open the Premiership season with an away fixture against Wasps on Sunday September 4, with home games against Saracens and Harlequins on the following two weekends.
Head coach Rob Baxter told his club's official website: "Jack Nowell is out after an operation on an injured thumb so he is going to be out for a while.
"It is potentially something like an eight-to-10 week injury. Other than him though, we are looking pretty good and have a pretty good squad for the start of the season."
England's first autumn international is against South Africa at Twickenham on November 12.