Bulldozing Brisbane prop Ben Hannant has been ruled out of Darren Lockyer's record-breaking clash with North Queensland in Townsville but he will be back in time for next month's NRL finals.
Scans on Monday detected a small tear in Hannant's hip (flexor) muscle with the early prognosis being a minimum of three weeks' rest.
The Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin had been expecting the bad news after Hannant failed to play the second half against the Warriors on Saturday night.
Reliable prop Nick Kenny is in the mix to come into the side.
There was better news on goal-kicking lock Corey Parker who is expected to make the trip north despite a badly-swollen eye and a dozen stitches in a nasty cheek cut.
Griffin says he expects Cowboys playmaker Johnathan Thurston to play.
The clash, which is heading towards a sellout, will create history with Lockyer breaking the record for the most NRL games (350), eclipsing Terry Lamb and Steve Menzies.
