David O'Callaghan will miss the Dublin's opening match in the Allianz Hurling League due to pneumonia.
The St Mark's attacker has been laid low with the inflammatory condition and although he has returned to training, Sunday's Division One clash against Galway will come too soon.
Indeed, manager Anthony Daly admits O'Callaghan could miss the first three games of the new campaign as his body recovers from the illness.
"He got a bad old dose. He was in the bed for two weeks. He was back in at training on Sunday and it was great to see him there," Daly said at the launch of the 2012 Allianz Hurling League.
"It was a great lift for everyone, he's awful popular amongst the boys. He's a great character. He was at training with a coat and a scarf on him.
"He needs time now to build up the body. He looks a bit shook. He's going to need a chance to get the strength back.
"I wouldn't envisage him playing any part in the first two or three League games, but hopefully he'll have a good chance to get himself ready and have a good long season."
Daly has been boosted by the return of David Treacy, who has recovered from a long-standing injury, in time for the trip to Salthill.
"David Treacy had a cruciate and chronic hamstring problems over the last two seasons but has made every effort to get himself back in the firing line for Sunday," Daly added.
"Really, if you told me at the start of the year that David would be available for the first round against Galway I wouldn't have thought that was possible.
"But he has really worked hard to put himself in the position."