Newby had knee surgery in the summer and No8 Crane is expected to be out of action for the whole of the 2011/12 season after an operation to repair a knee problem.
Woods said: “Last season started well for me but then I got an injury and Newbs did fantastically well in the team at openside. Unfortunately, he is on the other side of that now and out for while.
“It is difficult because you have got to get through injury on your own but, at the same time, you are in a team sport and the rest of the guys try to help and keep you involved as much as they can without being too patronising.
“Newbs and Craner are out for a while and on crutches. I’ve been through that myself and it is really frustrating not being able to get around, not having that independence, when you're used to it.
"It can be a really down-beat time.”
Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill also has Tom Croft away on international duty but still has options available in the back-row positions, including Woods and summer signing Julian Salvi, as the squad prepare for Saturday's season-opener. And England Saxons cap Woods says the whole squad is keen to hit the ground running.
“At the end of the season you get your four weeks off and then it’s back to work,” he says. “At that stage you’ve still got two months to go until the start of the new season and you want to work hard but you don’t want to peak too early.
“There is a balance and the staff structure it well. It’s all about trying to get the timing right.”
Exeter Chiefs provide the opening opponents of the new Aviva Premiership season at Welford Road on Saturday, and Tigers were very impressed by their visitors last year.
“They gave us a tough game at the start of last season and we just came through it,” Woods says. “It could have gone the other way if we hadn't managed to knuckle down in the last 20 minutes. Away from home they were very tough too.
“They will earn from last year, they have added a few players to their squad, they are very well coached and we know they’ll be tough.”
Tigers have also added to the squad since last May’s Aviva Premiership Final, and Woods senses excitement in the camp ahead of the opening day of a new campaign.
“There will be guys making their debuts and guys playing at Welford Road for the first time which is exciting too, even for the guys who have been here a few years,” he says.
“You look forward to being involved in every game you can but the first game of the season is that bit extra special.”
Tickets for Tigers' opening game of the season, and all fixtures at Welford Road, are available now from the Welford Road ticket office, on the hotline 0844 856 1880 or online by clicking here
