The Warriors have a week to recover from their disastrous start before facing Sonny Bill Williams' Roosters, but they will do so without the services of Manu Vatuvei.
The rampaging wing limped off early during Saturday night's big loss to Parramatta in Sydney, and the club yesterday confirmed he faces up to three weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
Vatuvei left the stadium on crutches and wearing a moon boot and, while the Warriors will be thankful the injury wasn't any more serious, the club's leading try-scorer is likely to be absent until round four.
Bill Tupou, a regular starter last year before losing his place to Glen Fisiiahi for the season opener, looms as the likely replacement for Saturday's clash with Sydney at Eden Park.
Already injury-hit, the Warriors have the work cut out for them if they are to bounce back from the heavy defeat to the Eels, the club's ninth straight loss dating back to last season. With Vatuvei joining Nathan Friend, Russell Packer and Sam and Sione Lousi on the sidelines, it has hardly been an ideal start to new coach Matt Elliott's tenure.