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Melbourne have lost Jahrome Hughes and Kenny Bromwich for their clash with Canberra, meaning they will be without their whole first-choice spine for the game.

Melbourne's injury crisis has hit another flashpoint with their entire first-choice spine now ruled out of Saturday's NRL clash with Canberra.

Jahrome Hughes was on Friday ruled out of the match with a calf injury that also threatens to prevent him playing in next week's fixture with Brisbane.

Kenny Bromwich will also miss the game with a hamstring blow, with neither he nor Hughes boarding the flight to Canberra on Saturday.

It means Cooper Johns will now partner utility Chris Lewis in the halves for just his third NRL match, with back-up No.7 Ryley Jacks also out with a concussion.

Nicho Hynes will start at fullback as named in place of the concussed Ryan Papenhuyzen, while Brandon Smith at least returns at hooker with Harry Grant out.

Melbourne's injury list also includes star five-eighth Cameron Munster, centre Brenko Lee, hooker Tyson Smoothy and forwards Darryn Schonig and Max King.

Meanwhile the fresh injuries come as Harry Grant revealed on Friday he may not return from a hamstring injury in time to be picked for Queensland for State of Origin I at the MCG.

Grant has put a four-week timeline on the recovery, meaning he would not play before teams are selected at the end of round 12.

He could potentially make his return in Origin, but that would be a gutsy call for the Maroons who may want to at least partner him with Reed Mahoney.

"It's coming good, coming along pretty nicely," Grant told radio station SEN.

"I just don't want to rush it and over-do it. I think I will probably be looking at a few extra weeks, maybe four weeks.

"I think it's just a bit unfortunate the timing. I would have liked to be playing and pushing my case to get selected again.

"It is what it is. I can't control it, I haven't dwelled on it too much."

Papenhuyzen is also unlikely to return to face the Broncos next week, meaning he too would have to be picked for NSW without a game under his belt.