Sydney have suffered a blow just days before the start of the AFL season after former captain and midfield ace Luke Parker needed surgery to repair a broken arm.

The 31-year-old suffered the injury in the final quarter of Thursday’s match simulation against the Giants and had surgery the following day.

The 2016 All-Australian will meet specialists again this Friday to determine a return-to-play timeline.

A premiership player in 2012, Parker relinquished the co-captaincy ahead of a 2024 season in which he hopes to bring up his 300th AFL game.

But the 283-gamer will join new stand-alone skipper Callum Mills on the sidelines for the beginning of the season.

Mills is not expected to return until mid-campaign after injuring his shoulder while wrestling a teammate on Mad Monday last year.

The Swans open their AFL season against Melbourne next Thursday, with a round four date against West Coast likely to come while Parker and Mills are still sidelined.