Clare have been dealt a blow after defender Pat Vaughan confirmed he would miss the entire Allianz Hurling League through injury.
Vaughan skippered Clare in 2011 but he has been struggling with a hip injury for some time and he is facing up to the fact that he will have to undergo surgery to correct the problem.
He has yet to receive a date for the operation but he has warned it will be three months before he will be able to line out for Davy Fitzgerald's Banner County.
"I am awaiting a date for the surgery, which I hope to get done in February and it will be three months from then before I can play. I just have to have the problem corrected," Vaughan explained to the Clare Champion.
Vaughan's injury is bad news for Fitzgerald as he is already without Daroch Honan for the entire league campaign following his recent hip surgery.
The new manager hopes to have both players available for selection ahead of the Munster championship opener against Waterford on June 17.