Injury sidelines key JackJumper

The Tasmania JackJumpers injury-riddled start to the Hungry Jack's NBL27 Season has claimed another victim, with one of the key forwards ruled out for an extended time.

Tasmania announced on Tuesday that NBL24 champion Major Deng has suffered a fractured fibula and will be out for at least four weeks.

Deng made contact with South East Melbourne Phoenix Akech Aliir in the flow of the game late in the third quarter.

The South Sudanese international went on to score a lay-up soon after that tied the game, before he came off the court almost immediately after.

A scan later revealed that the 33-year-old has a hairline fracture in his fibula, the smaller of the two shin bones, along with a corked calf muscle.

JackJumpers Head of High Performance, Ryan Carroll, said Deng was undertaking rest and rehabilitation.

"For this kind of injury we would aim for a return in four to six weeks," Carroll said.

"Time is one thing, but there will be constant assessment and rehabilitation to ensure Majok can return to his high level of performance."

Deng, who will be replaced by Development Player Jed Richardson in the squad, joins Bryce Hamilton (ACL), Anthony Drmic (back) and Ben Ayre (hip flexor) on the sidelines for Scott Roth's side.

Forward Josh Bannan, who has been out with a rib injury, will be a game-time decision for the club's home fixture with Melbourne United on Thursday.

That Round 3 game at MyState Bank Arena tips off at 7.30pm AEST, live on ESPN.