Spencer will have his fractured jaw plated in a surgecal procedure on Monday, with an oral surgeon set to place a small metal plate across the fracture to the right side of his jaw.

Spencer’s injury is the result of a high tackle by Chiefs prop Deacon Manu (Spencer’s Blues team-mate last season) just before half-time, an act that will see the offending player appear before a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday.

The Blues’ medical team hopes this procedure will get him back much earlier that the anticipated six-week stand-down period. According to Blues team doctor Peter Coleman, they hope he could be back in four weeks.

But the Blues’ injury woes go a lot deeper.

Before the loss to the Chiefs, they had already lost star Fijian winger Rupeni Caucaunibuca, tighthead prop Kees Meeuws and back-up first five-eighth Tasesa Lavea to injury.

During the match Spencer, captain and No.8 Xavier Rush, wing Joe Rokocoko (who replaced Caucaunibuca), prop Greg Feek and back rower Justin Collins were added to the injury list.

The injury to Rokocoko, who damaged his shoulder, is a particularly big blow. Caucaunibuca also has a shoulder problem and now Rokocoko has been ruled out for several weeks.

The Blues might also have to find a captain to stand in for Rush, who suffered concussion against the Chiefs.

Rush was only ’mildly’ concussed against the Chiefs, but without any previous history, it is hoped he could be cleared for the game against the Reds at Ballymore in Brisbane this coming Saturday if he passes a batch of medical and fitness tests.

There is the added uncertainty about the fitness of scrum-half Steve Devine and Feek, both suffering with shoulder problems, Meeuws with a back strain, as well as Collins and Lavea with leg injuries.

Apart from all the injury troubles facing the coaching staff, a number of key selection decisions should be made this week.

The first selection decision would be whether Orene Ai’i or Lavea will be Spencer’s replacement in the No.10 jersey.

Development squad utility Luke McAlister will train with the Blues squad this week as Lavea’s leg muscle troubles forced him to miss last Friday’s match.

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