Newport Gwent Dragons lock Luke Charteris could be out for six weeks and has been omitted from the Wales' squad for the Six Nations Championship.
The 6ft 10ins lock has been an integral part of Wales coach Mike Ruddock's plans since he took over from Steve Hansen and has won six caps, his last against Fiji in November.
But he has been plagued by a number of injuries during his brief career and his latest came in a Dragons training session last month when he damaged a shoulder.
He has missed the last three Dragons matches and has now had a scan which revealed he could be out for six weeks.
If that is confirmed it would put him out until the end of February and would force him to miss Wales' first three Six Nations games against England, Scotland and Ireland.
With time so short to get back to full fitness and challenge for a place it would make Charteris a major doubt for the whole Six Nations Championship.
There is no obvious replacement for Charteris in the 30-strong Wales squad announced by Ruddock today, with just two locks named - Dragons teammate Ian Gough and Robert Sidoli, though Jonathan Thomas can play there.
On that basis it looks as though Ruddock is considering switching Michael Owen back to lock, a position he has occupied before, particularly under Hansen, or at the very least cover the lock position.
Ruddock is well blessed in the back row, despite the absence of Ryan Jones for the season, with Owen, Thomas, Gareth Delve, Dafydd Jones, Alix Popham, Martyn Williams and Colin Charvis all named today.
It is the first Six Nations inclusion for Cardiff-born Bath back row man Delve, who has been plagued by a series of major injuries but is now showing outstanding form in the Guinness Premiership.
Ruddock explained that there is every chance of Ospreys lock Ian Evans being added to the squad once his suspension has been completed.
Delve and Scarlets teammates hooker Matthew Rees, wing Mark Jones and full back Barry Davies have all been recalled after missing the Autumn internationals.
It will be the first time for Jones to appear since the 2003 World Cup when the winger suffered the first of two major knee injuries, both of which required complete reconstruction.
Also returning from injury which ruled them out of the November games are Dragons centre Hal Luscombe, Cardiff Blues prop Gethin Jenkins and Scarlets back row forward Dafydd Jones, who did play a limited part.
Missing because of injury are Kevin Morgan, Tom Shanklin, Chris Horsman, Brent Cockbain, Ryan Jones and Charteris with injury while Gavin Henson is banned.
Wales Squad: Duncan Jones (Ospreys), John Yapp (Cardiff Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Mefin Davies (Gloucester Rugby), Rhys Thomas (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), Ian Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), Robert Sidoli (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Michael Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons), Gareth Delve (Bath Rugby), Dafydd Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Alix Popham (Llanelli Scarlets), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Colin Charvis (Newcastle Falcons), Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets), Gareth Cooper (Newport Gwent Dragons), Michael Phillips (Cardiff Blues), Stephen Jones (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Nicky Robinson (Cardiff Blu es), Shane Williams (Ospreys), Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Dafydd James (Llanelli Scarlets), Lee Byrne (Llanelli Scarlets), Ceri Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), Hal Luscombe (Newport Gwent Dragons), Matthew Watkins (Llanelli Scarlets), Barry Davies (Llanelli Scarlets), Gareth Thomas (Toulouse - Captain).
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