Bradford will be without Andy Lynch for their next four games, while James Donaldson will not play again this year.
Skipper to be fit for the "business end of the season"
Bradford captain Andy Lynch will miss his side's next four Super League games due to knee surgery, while team-mate James Donaldson has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
Lynch will go under the knife on Tuesday to repair a damaged cartilage having played through the pain barrier in the last few weeks.
The forward will be sidelined for home games against play-off rivals Warrington and Hull, as well as away trips to Crusaders and Castleford.
Bulls coach Steve McNamara admitted the operation was needed to get the player fit for "the business end of the season".
"It's a measure of Andy's stature as a player and as captain that he has played through the pain barrier in recent weeks," McNamara said.
"He has never given less than 100 percent in all the games he has played but the time has now come for him to have the operation with a view to being fully fit for the business end of the season."
Donaldson done
Meanwhile, Bradford's worst fears have been realised over the knee injury second-rower Donaldson suffered against Warrington on May 30.
A specialist has confirmed that the teenager ruptured both his anterior cruciate and his medial ligaments during the Bulls' 26-22 Carnegie Challenge Cup defeat to the Wolves.
Donaldson will now have his knee in a brace for the next six weeks before undergoing surgery. His recovery will take six months.
"It's a devastating blow for James but it was something we expected after the initial diagnosis from our own medical staff," admitted McNamara.
"The good thing for James is that he is only young and he will shortly be able to start working on all aspects of his bodily strength and his rehab and he should be fit for the start of next season.
"In the meantime, he will receive all the support possible from everyone at the club."
