Argentina will be without first-choice flyhalf Tomas Albornoz for their two Rugby Championship clashes against Australia next month after he dislocated a finger at the weekend.
Albornoz went off early on Saturday after a teammate stood on his hand in open play in Argentina's historic 29-23 win over New Zealand in Buenos Aires.
It was the first home victory for the Pumas over the All Blacks and handed Argentina hope of being Rugby Championship contenders this season.
But the 27-year-old Albornoz being sidelined for the clashes in Townsville on September 6 and Sydney one week later will be a huge blow considering he has played a huge part in the team's recent success.
The news comes amid the Wallabies' own woes, headed by the potential long-term absence of fullback Tom Wright, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee in Saturday's 30-22 loss to South Africa in Cape Town.
Scrumhalf Nic White and centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii were both concussed in the first half while prop Taniela Tupou dislocated a finger shortly before the break.
Skipper Harry Wilson (knee), James Slipper (concussion) and Dylan Pietsch (broken jaw) were all injured in the Test the week before in Johannesburg.
Flyhalf Ben Donaldson (groin) was also ruled out before that game while Harry Potter, Matt Faessler, Allan Alaalatoa, Tom Lynagh and Jake Gordon - the latter pair the starting halves against the British and Irish Lions - didn't make the trip.
"After today and even losing three guys last week, the attritional nature of the tour is going to make it a little bit more difficult coming up against Argentina," Schmidt said post-game.
"Because I do have massive respect for not just their team, but their coaching staff as well.
"(Coach) Felipe Contepomi I know well and have a lot of time for. That's something once we land back in Australia we'll work out.
"But our strength and depth is going to be tested. So the guys who are experienced, they're going to have to get around the new guys who come in and we're going to have to calibrate those guys as quickly as possible, assimilate them into the group and try to kick on against Argentina in two weeks' time."
