The handy all-rounder, who has appeared for Canterbury at Shell Cup, Trophy, and Cricket Max competitions in recent seasons, is having a shoulder reconstruction operation early next month.

Despite doing considerable off-season strengthening work the injury, first sustained last season, flared again in the nets, preventing Muir from bowling at all.

``It's really frustrating as I missed a lot of last season with it and now this one's gone too.

``You don't get that many chances to play in a side like Canterbury and I wanted to get back there this season.'' Muir, 26, said if he had been over 30 he might have flagged the sport away, but he hoped he still had some good years left.

Muir sustained the injury last season, which led to on-going shoulder pain while bowling in a Cricket Max match for Canterbury in November when he broke down bowling, tearing a pectoral muscle which ruptured and dislocated.

He returned to first-class level, playing two Shell Trophy matches in February, but did not feel 100 per cent.

Muir said he was advised by his surgeon that he will be out for five months minimum and it could be another month or two before he can resume bowling. Muir has played 10 Shell Cup games for Canterbury with a batting average of 28.66 and runs-an-over concession rate of 4.25. He has played six first-class games.