Munster's Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara is set to miss his side's remaining Heineken Cup Pool Four games after breaking a bone in his right hand.
The 25-year-old, who became all-time top scorer in the Heineken Cup with 649 points in Munster's 36-8 round four win over Castres last month, had a scan on the hand injury which forced him off in the province's 19-13 Celtic League defeat of Leinster last weekend.
O'Gara is expected to be out for three weeks, with his replacement Paul Burke now in line for his first European start for Munster, since joining the province in the summer.
The 31-year-old - Munster's leading scorer in the Celtic League on 92 points - will now line up against the Neath Swansea Ospreys next Saturday at Thomond Park, and face his former employers Harlequins in round six on January 15, at Twickenham.
However O'Gara should be back in action in time for Ireland's opening RBS Six Nations game against Italy at the start of next month.