Aspinwall joined Huddersfield from Wigan in 2005

The 25-year-old will undergo surgery on Wednesday to repair a torn groin muscle and faces four weeks out.

He is a major doubt for the Giants opening match against reigning champions St Helens on 4 February.

The former Wigan winger was a non-playing member of the Lions' Tri-Nations squad in Australia and New Zealand in the autumn.

"It will be touch and go," admitted coach Jon Sharp. "He has been struggling with his groin for the last few weeks and we decided to be very positive and get him in to have the repair done."

But new signing Ryan Hudson could feature in the season opener, even though his two-year drugs ban does not expire until later this month.

The former Wakefield and Castleford hooker has signed a three-year contract with the Giants but is prevented from having any contact with the club until his ban runs out on 20 January.

He will miss the club's pre-season training camp to Portugal later this week but Sharp intends to play him in a friendly against Wigan on 21 January.

"Physically he will be fine because he's a personal fitness trainer and he's always been athletic and fit but he needs to experience some game time," said Sharp.

"We know we need to look after him. He's been kicking his heels for two years and he will be busting a gut to get out there. My biggest challenge will be to steady him down."