Clare are hoping to have Tony Kelly back fit for championship after the star attacker underwent ankle surgery just before Christmas.
2023 All-Star John Conlon reported back for training on Friday but Clare manager Brian Lohan appears resigned to being without Kelly for the upcoming league campaign.
He faces a rehabilitation period ahead of Clare's 2024 Munster championship campaign, which begins at home to All-Ireland champions Limerick on 21 April.
"Tony had his operation just before Christmas," said Lohan, in the aftermath of Clare's Munster Hurling League loss to Cork this afternoon.
"So he's with the physio and we're hoping that he'll be right but these operations, there's a lot of work to be done with the physios and the consultant and that. We're hoping that he'll be back for Championship.
"There was a window there to get the surgery. It's not ideal obviously but it is what it is."
Meanwhile, it's feared Cork attacker Declan Dalton has suffered a broken bone in his foot during their three-point victory at Páirc Uí Rinn.
The Fr O'Neills forward had just recovered from the same injury, albeit in his other foot, to return to action over Christmas.
He was introduced as a half-time substitute during the 1-24 to 0-24 win but limped off seven minutes later.
Dalton became a regular starter for Cork last year, playing in all four of their Munster Championship games and scoring 2-9.
"I’d say it is a metatarsal injury," said manager Pat Ryan. "It’s disappointing.
"Deccie had a metatarsal at the end of the year from the club as well on the opposite foot.
"He’s obviously a big, strong man so it’s disappointing. We’ll get that assessed tomorrow."
On the positive side, Ryan reported that Mark Coleman, Tim O’Mahony, and Alan Connolly are all in contention to return when their National League campaign throws in against Clear next month.
The likes of Damien and Conor Cahalane and Niall O’Leary, who had been on club duty with Castlehaven and Castlelyons respectively, will get a break before returning.
"Niall is fit and ready to go but he’ll get a bit of a break now.
"The two Cahalanes have had a hectic schedule and were carrying injuries as you could see the last day at the end of the game.
"We’ll take our time. When they’re right to come back, we’ll get them back.
"They were both carrying knocks into the Castlehaven game but I don’t think any Cahalane ever missed a game for Castlehaven.
"They’re great young fellas, they’d a great campaign with Castlehaven, and they’ll be back in the next three or four weeks for us. We’ll give them two weeks off and then ease them back into it."
They will tog a refreshed line-up to face Limerick on Wednesday in Rathkeale, with Patrick Horgan, Seamus Harnedy, Conor O’Callaghan, Ben Cunningham, and Micheál Mullins among those training on Sunday morning with an eye on that tie.