Hertha Berlin defender Josip Simunic could be sidelined until after the Bundesliga winter break with a calf strain picked up in training this morning.

Simunic limped out of the session and was diagnosed with the injury after undergoing a scan on his right calf by team doctor Ulrich Schleicher.

The news puts the defender in doubt for Saturday's Bundesliga clash with Karlsruhe, Hertha's final fixture of the 2008 calendar year before the German league takes a seven-week break.

The 30-year-old has played in 12 of Berlin's 16 Bundesliga games so far this season, helping Berlin to one of the league's strongest defensive records.

They have conceded 20 goals in 16 games so far, two fewer than top two Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich.