The ACT Brumbies will seek specialist advice on Robbie Coleman's sternum and hope the injury will not cripple the talented back's start to the Super Rugby season.
Coleman will return to Canberra today after reinjuring his sternum in the Brumbies' trial victory over the Western Force in Darwin on Saturday night.
He will be immediately sent to a thoracic (chest) specialist to determine how severe the damage is and whether he requires surgery.
It's a massive blow to the young Brumbies just 18 days out from the start of the season.
Coach Jake White was grooming Coleman as a possible option at fullback for the round one clash with the Force on February 24 at Canberra Stadium.
The 21-year-old fractured his sternum at the end of last season and was eased back into pre-season training.
The fracture had healed, but now Brumbies medical staff want to make sure his sternum is stable before reintroducing him to training.
''We just want to make sure we give him the best medical advice,'' White said.
''We don't think it's a recurring thing.
''Rather than be silly we told him to go back and see what the thoracic surgeons say.
''He's been training and taking knocks and nothing - so we just want to make sure everything is OK there.''
With no definite time frame on Coleman's recovery, White may have to promote someone from his extended player squad to begin the season.
The ARU pays for each Australian franchise to have five EPS players on its roster and they can be used when there are injuries to the top 30.
Coleman made his Super Rugby debut last season as an inside centre.
But White believed the Queanbeyan junior would benefit from having more time and space at fullback.
The Brumbies have four forwards and only one back - Jesse Mogg - in their EPS squad.
''It's a massive blow, when you lose a guy from a squad of 30 it's tough when you haven't started the competition,'' White said.
''Then you can say thank goodness the ARU supplies the EPS players because it gives you the opportunity to have back-up players. If we didn't have the EPS players we would really be struggling.''
The Brumbies shocked the Force with their physical approach to the trial match at Rugby Park in the Northern Territory.
White used the match as a chance to test out his combinations.
He used 30 players in the match, with two separate teams of 15 lining up in each half.
White's squad will be complete when powerhouse No.8 Fotu Auelua arrives in Canberra on Wednesday after finishing his stint in Japanese rugby.
Auelua won't join the team in Cairns, but he is a chance of playing for the ACT XV against the Brumbies on February 16.
Coleman was the only major injury concern and it is hoped he will be able to return to training when the Brumbies arrive back in Canberra on Sunday.
Prop Jerry Yanuyanutawa was concussed, but he has been cleared of any further injury and will travel with the team to Cairns tomorrow.
The Brumbies take on defending champion the Queensland Reds in Cairns on Saturday.
White was impressed with his team's first hit-out.
''Defensively you could tell everyone bought into what we're trying to do,'' White said.
''The weakest player, whoever that is, understands what he has to do and that's the secret of having a good team - when everyone knows what their jobs are. What's nice is we've now got combinations we can use in different conditions.''
BRUMBIES TRIALS
Saturday: v Queensland Reds in Cairns, 8pm;
February 16: v ACT XV at Viking Park, Canberra, 5.40pm.
+SUPER RUGBY ROUND ONE
February 24: v Western Force at Canberra Stadium, 7.40pm.
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