Gloucestershire have suffered a double injury blow with the start of the new season a fortnight away.
Ian Saxelby, dogged by fitness problems throughout his time at Nevil Road, has suffered a bicep strain and looks set for another lengthy spell on the sidelines.
And fellow seamer Paul Muchall has undergone a cartilage operation, ruling him out of action for up to 12 weeks.
The County's director of cricket John Bracewell said: "We brought Paul back early from New Zealand because of a knee problem and hoped it would settle down with rest.
"Instead it has got worse, so surgery was the only answer.
"Unfortunately it is the outside cartilage, which means a longer lay-off, and we are probably looking at six to 12 weeks.
"Ian's bicep injury is a continuation from the shoulder problems that have plagued him. We will get it checked out this week but it doesn't look good.
"He really has had wretched luck."
Bracewell confirmed that James Fuller would have been left out of the abandoned pre-season match against Oxford MCCU last Friday because of a knee problem.
But the all-rounder, who has enjoyed success in New Zealand club cricket this winter, is expected to be fit when Gloucestershire head to Essex for their County Championship opener on April 10.
Vice-captain Hamish Marshall will lead the team during the warm-up matches, with new Australian skipper Michael Klinger not yet on UK shores.
