Curtis didn’t play in last Saturday’s 150-point loss to Canberra Demons.

“It’s OK at the moment, I’m just waiting to see if there’s any long-term damage,” he said.

“I’ve had a history of shoulders, I’ve had a reconstruction, but it’s not that shoulder, I’m able to do a few things, so it can’t be that bad.”

The Panthers will be sweating on the mentor’s fitness.

Lavington finished fourth last year and while it’s picked up some talent in Curtis and former Werribee star Nick Meredith, along with multiple best and fairest Matt Pendergast, it has lost depth, with a host of senior players, including Matt Sharp and Sam Harris, moving to district clubs.

Curtis, who signed a three-year deal last July, is regarded as an elite kick and inspirational leader, starring at NEAFL level in a variety of positions.

Meanwhile, Meredith also missed the loss to the Demons with a hamstring issue.

“I played against Ainslie (the previous week) in the first quarter and a half, I went into the game knowing it was tight, but I think it’s just been due to work,” he said.

“Your hammies cop a flogging bending down and picking up stuff all day, it’s just been tight and I’m just trying to get on top of it.”

The tall defender works for his father’s roof plumbing business.

Meredith says there’s no chance though he’ll miss the season-opener against Wodonga on Good Friday.

“I’ll be back in full training this week,” he said.

Meredith is crucial to the Panthers’ hopes and could, potentially, be a Morris Medal contender, given his class and ability to shut down attacking spearheads.

Lavington faces only one team from last year’s top five in the first month.