REGINA - The Saskatchewan Roughriders will be opening their Grey Cup title defence without fullback Chris Szarka.

The 11-year CFL veteran is expected to miss two-to-three weeks with a suspected fractured bone in his foot. The Riders aren’t sure if Szarka suffered the injury in the club’s final pre-season game or sometime this week in practice.

The Roughriders open their ‘08 season at home Saturday night against the Edmonton Eskimos (7:30 p.m. ET).

The rugged six-foot-three, 235-pound fullback appeared in 15 games last year before suffering a hand injury. He returned in time for the West final where Saskatchewan beat B.C. 26-17 and also dressed in the club’s 23-19 victory over Winnipeg in the Grey Cup game at Toronto’s Rogers Centre.

Szarka, 33, finished the 2007 season with 25 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown. He also had 11 receptions for 158 yards and also played special teams.