Tumut's aspirations to win their first title in almost a decade have hit another big hurdle.
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Lachlan Bristow's immediate future is in doubt after the star hooker lacerated his kidney late in the loss to Gundagai on Saturday.
He remains in hospital as doctors wait for the bleeding to stop.
Surgery is still an option if the situation doesn't improve.
The Blues are hopeful it won't come to that but regardless he's facing a long stint on the sideline.
"It's not good at all," co-coach Dean Bristow said.
"The best case scenario it could be about six to eight weeks and worse case scenario it would be never again or the season at least.
"At first we never really spoke about how long he was going to be out of footy, and just making sure he was going to be fine, but the first thing out of his mouth was how long will I be out of footy for."
Tumut have only lost twice this season, to grand finalists Gundagai and Southcity, in what have been tight games at Twickenham.
Bristow missed the start of the season, including the clash with the Bulls, after breaking his hand on the eve of the season.
However he showed just what he brings to the side in his five games, amassing 15 points to sit in equal eight and seven votes off leader James Luff in the Weissel Medal count heading into last week's loss.
Jacob Toppin was at hooker before Bristow's return but the Blues are looking at a different option.
"In the short term we will probably keep Toppo at six as he's just starting to find his feet there," Dean Bristow said.
"If there's a possibility that Lachlan comes back it might keep a bit of continuity there and we'll move Todd (Broad) into hooker and have Jason Webb as 14 and use him as a back up and rotate him at nine.
"It is where he played for us last year and put Josh Webb onto the wing."
It's far from idea timing after the Blues showed they are a real title contender this season, especially with the spark Bristow has provided them from dummy half.
Tumut are looking to rebound against Brothers at Equex Centre on Sunday.
Only two points separated the sides in round one but the Wagga club has struggled against the top teams since.
It's includes a 46-6 loss to Southcity on Sunday.
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