Glasgow Warriors have been dealt a bitter blow ahead of their vital Pool 3 home clash with reigning champions Leinster at Firhill on Sunday with the news that Scottish international prop Moray Low will be out of action for at least eight weeks.
The 27-year-old was injured in last weekend's RaboDirect PRO12 defeat in Llanelli and was found to have suffered damage to the medial collateral ligament in his knee.
The injury will not only rule him out of the final two rounds of this season's Heineken Cup Pool matches - the Warriors travel to Bath in Round 6 - but will also leave him battling to be fit to join the Scottish RBS 6 Nations squad.
Having scored tries in the Warrior's last two games, and become one of 12 players from the Glasgow outfit to be called up by Scottish coach Andy Robinson, he was reaching peak form at the right time of the season.
"This is clearly very disappointing news for Moray. He's an ambitious player who is extremely keen to achieve success with both Glasgow and Scotland, and the injury has come at a very unfortunate time," said Warriors head coach Sean Lineen.
"But he's a tough character and I know he'll work hard to bounce back strongly. In terms of his rehab, he'll be in great hands with the medical and physio team we have here at the Warriors."
There was better news for Lineen and his team about international outside half Ruaridh Jackson following his early withdrawal from the game at Parc y Scarlets last weekend. He felt a sharp pain in his thigh after kicking an early penalty and there were fears for the 23-year-old's fitness for this weekend. But after further assessment and treatment he looks set for a pre-6 Nations shoot-out with Irish rival Jonny Sexton on Sunday.
"Ruaridh has reacted well to treatment and the Warriors medical team are happy with his progress. He will continue to be monitored closely in the lead-in to our Heineken Cup matches and, from Scotland's perspective, for the RBS 6 Nations Championship," added Lineen.