Broadley injured his hand in last weekend's 2-0 win over Adamstown Rosebud, but played out the full 90 minutes.

His hand was swollen after the game and club medical staff feared the worst - and an x-ray on Tuesday confirmed the fracture on the outside of his hand.

"The prognosis is four to six weeks," a disappointed coach Mick Bolch said.

"He has been been good, so it will be a loss."

The news comes amid a busy schedule of matches - after the Rosebud game the Magpies took on fellow NPL side Charlestown City in an FFA Cup clash at Cooks Square on Wednesday night, before focusing on the formidable challenge of the Jets Youth next weekend.

The loss of Broadley will be a factor as coach Bolch has made it clear he wants his side to give the FFA Cup full attention, as well as the NPL.

"Last season was my first and we were probably more focussed on the NPL competition itself," he explained.

"But not now. I said at the start of the season that we were aiming to reach the round of 32 at least and nothing has changed.

"We're taking this seriously and I expect a strong showing.

"We have the depth to deal with this as well as the NPL."

Maitland have been remarkably consistent if you can overlook one terrible showing two weeks back against Hamilton Olympic.

On either side of that match they have beaten Adamstown Rosebud (2-0), Lake Macquarie City (3-1), Edgeworth (2-1), and Charlestown (2-0), as well as a highly creditable away draw with ladder leaders Broadmeadow Magic.

That's good form - four wins and a draw from their last six.

"We're going along nicely," Bolch conceded.

"I wanted a response on the weekend against Adamstown following that effort against Hamilton Olympic, and I got that.

"I thought two-nil was flattering to Rosebud. We hit the post and probably could have scored another couple.

"But Ryan's injury won't make things any easier."