Canterbury's top-eight push has suffered a significant blow, with Viliame Kikau to miss a month with a finger injury.

Kikau was due to undergo surgery on Monday on a compound fracture of his ring finger, and is expected to miss between four and six weeks of NRL action.

The injury will rule Kikau out of matches against Newcastle, Parramatta and the Sydney Roosters, while he faces a race against time to be fit to face Cronulla and the Warriors.

Kikau has been among the Bulldogs' best this year, looming as a powerful threat on the left edge and sitting sixth in the NRL's Dally M race.

Canterbury are also set to be without Matt Burton on Thursday night against the Knights, with the five-eighth in NSW camp as 18th man for State of Origin I.

Scott Bailey - AAP