Wales and Llanelli hooker Robin McBryde will be unavailable for selection for at least six weeks following an operation to resolve a long standing toe injury.
The timing of the operation means the 22 times capped hooker will miss the opening matches of this season's Six Nations championship.
He will definitely miss Wales' matches against Italy on 15 February and against England the following weekend at the Millennium Stadium.
And the 32 year-old may not have recovered in time to make the trip to Scotland on 8 March.
But Llanelli management will be hoping McBryde will be part of their squad for their crucial Heineken Cup quarter-final against Perpignan on 11 April.
