Ospreys and Wales centre Andrew Bishop faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines after an MRI scan confirmed ankle ligament damage.
The 25-year-old has played in all four of the Welsh regions Heineken Cup games to date this season but will sit out the remaining two Pool games against London Irish and Toulon.
Bishop suffered the injury playing against Cardiff Blues recently but the full extent of the problem has only been revealed today.
"Andrew picked up an ankle injury against the Blues on New Year's Eve, and we have now been able to establish the full extent of the ligament damage sustained through an MRI scan," said Ospreys head physio Chris Towers.
"In light of the location of the injury, we are anticipating that he could be out of action for up to eight weeks."
The Ospreys travel to London Irish on Sunday before welcoming Pool 3 leaders Toulon to the Liberty Stadium the following weekend.