Worcestershire CCC batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore will undergo shoulder surgery today (Wednesday).
But Director Of Cricket Steve Rhodes is confident Kohler-Cadmore will be available for the opening Specsavers County Championship match of the campaign.
Kohler-Cadmore dislocated his shoulder while playing grade cricket abroad this winter.
The former Malvern College pupil has been ruled out of the County's pre-season tour to Abu Dhabi which gets underway on March 9.
Rhodes said: "He will have an operation today with the shoulder specialist. He has a dislocation of his shoulder so we've got to tighten it up a little bit.
"Although he will miss the Abu Dhabi trip, we expect him to be pushing for selection for our first Championship game.
"He will play some cricket in the warm-up games and he may not miss any (competitive) cricket at all."
Kohler-Cadmore, 22, won the Walter Lawrence Trophy for scoring the fastest century of last summer – against Durham at New Road in the NatWest T20 Blast.
Paceman George Scrimshaw is also not part of the squad for Abu Dhabi as he continues his rehab from a back problem.