Just 11 days out from their first game of the season against Gold Coast United, striker Pavlovic broke his left arm in the final minutes of the club's training session at Newtown Park.

The Australian under-23 representative was immediately taken to Wellington hospital where the break was confirmed, with the injury likely to keep him out for the next two months.

"It is a big blow for the boy," Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert said. "He has been training well and was starting to look sharp.

"We don't know yet how long he will be out for but I would think it will be six to eight weeks."

Speedy midfielder Pantelis is also likely to miss at least the first month of the season after sustaining a knee injury in Phoenix's practice match loss to Central Coast Mariners on Sunday.

Pantelis, 29, is yet to play a game for Phoenix after signing on in May from Adelaide United, and his absence leaves less than two weeks for Herbert to plug the holes in his side ahead of their season-opener on October 9.

Herbert added: "Lucas was also going well but the knee injury will keep him out for four to six weeks so it is a double blow."