Warriors prop Jacob Lillyman faces surgery and three months on the sideline after tearing a bicep muscle off the tendon in his team’s opening NRL trial against Gold Coast on Saturday.

The 27-year-old Queensland State of Origin forward was forced off the field 10 minutes into the Warriors’ 26-10 trial win at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.

Club doctor John Mayhew confirmed on Sunday that the 124-game NRL veteran had torn his right bicep off the tendon at the elbow.

“It’s probable he’ll have surgery this week,” Mayhew said.

“With this type of injury, he faces three months on the sideline.”

Lillyman was a key contributor in the Warriors’ successful campaign last year, appearing in 26 of the club’s 28 matches.

“It’s a real blow to lose Jake and it’s especially tough for him,” said Warriors head coach Brian McClennan.

“It’s disappointing knowing how hard he has worked during the off-season and how well he has prepared.”

With Lillyman set to be out of contention until the end of April, McClennan said several contenders are in line to replace him for the Warriors’ season-opening encounter with Manly at Eden Park on March 4.

He said they’d be given every opportunity to push their claims in the next two trials against South Sydney (February 11) and Sunshine Coast (February 18).