Ospreys hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the European Cup suffered a blow on Monday when it was revealed that Wales' all-time record try scorer Shane Williams could miss their last four group matches because of a torn hamstring.
The 28-year-old winger - who has not been on his usual tryscoring best this season touching down only once for his region - suffered the injury in the fifth minute of Wales' humiliating 33-12 defeat to Australia on Saturday.
There are fears he could be out for up to six weeks and joins fellow Ospreys international team-mates Mike Phillips and Lee Byrne on the sidelines.
The Ospreys will play Italian side Viadana in the European Cup in Reggio Emilia on December 12 before hosting the same opposition on December 19.
Ospreys final European group games are against French side Clermont Auvergne and Engloish giants Leicester Tigers are in mid to late January.
Williams, who is also the Ospreys' back-up scrum-half, faces a race against time to be fit for those final fixtures - and means the region must go into their games with Viadana with just one scrum-half.
Injuries to Phillips, Jamie Nutbrown and Tom Issacs means that new South African scrum-half Ricky Januarie is the only registered fit number nine in the Ospreys' European Cup squad.
Ospreys director of coaching Scott Johnson admitted it was a nioghtmare scenario.
"It is always disappointing when you lose a player of Shane's calibre through injury, but this news is a particular blow for us given the current situation we have here regarding our scrum halves.
"To have lost all three of our nominated scrum-halves for the tournament is an incredible situation, which resulted in us having to bring in emergency cover in the form of Ricky Januarie last week.
"With tournament regulations meaning that we are only able to make one squad change during the pool stages, as well as playing in his regular position on the wing, Shane was going to have to provide our only cover at scrum half, so his absence is a particular blow."
Williams' injury is a minor blow for Wales coach Warren Gatland also as the Ospreys star would have had limited game-time before their Six Nations opener against England at Twickenham on February 6.
Copyright 2009 AFP Global Edition
