If Auckland FC are to win their maiden A-League title, they will need to do it without star striker Guillermo May.

Coach Steve Corica confirmed the Uruguayan will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a syndesmosis injury during Saturday night’s 1-1 first-leg semi-final draw with Adelaide United.

There had initially been hope the injury was not serious, but scans revealed significant ligament damage, with Corica admitting surgery is now a possibility.

“He’s done his ligaments in that, so could need an operation,” Corica said. “Probably be 10 to 12 weeks.”

The setback could mean the 28-year-old has already played his final game for Auckland FC, with May off contract at the end of the campaign. However, the forward recently indicated he would like to remain with the club.

May featured in 26 matches this season, scoring six goals and registering four assists. During Auckland’s inaugural campaign last year, he was named the club’s most valuable player.

Corica also confirmed midfielders Felipe Gallegos and Jake Brimmer will miss Friday night’s second leg in Adelaide as they continue recovering from hamstring injuries, though both could return if Auckland progress to next weekend’s grand final.

Defender Callan Elliot was absent from training on Tuesday after rolling his ankle, while Francis de Vries is expected to be on limited minutes after recently returning from a hamstring injury.

“It’s a bonus for us to have him back, coming off the bench,” Corica said. “With Callan also with his ankle a little bit sore, gives us options to change and bring fresh players on and obviously a quality player that he is as well.

“We don’t know whether we might go to 120 minutes so it’s tough for him to start at the moment.”

Corica said his side are embracing the pressure as they chase a historic first grand final appearance. Auckland were in a similar position last season before a costly second-half collapse against the Melbourne Victory ended their finals run, despite entering the match as favourites.

“We prepare for every game much the same,” Corica said. “It’s a big game, of course, but last season the only thing we did wrong is we conceded two goals in five minutes.

“We can’t afford to do that, we can’t afford to concede at all. If we can keep a clean sheet, I think we’ve got a very good chance of going into the grand final.

“For us, it’s more about what we set out our goals at the start of the season [which] is to win the grand final and we’re almost there.”

If the aggregate score is level after Friday’s second leg, the semi-final will head to extra time and, if necessary, penalties. Auckland can draw confidence from their elimination final victory over Melbourne City, where they advanced via a penalty shootout.

In the other semi-final, Newcastle Jets FC and Sydney FC shared a 1-1 draw in their opening leg.

Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.