Edinburgh have been dealt a major blow after flanker Ross Rennie dislocated his shoulder while on international duty.
The Scotland flanker suffered the injury in yesterday's 51-22 loss to New Zealand at Murrayfield.
Rennie will continue to be assessed but is set for an extended period on the sidelines which is certain to rule him out of Rounds Three and Four of the Heineken Cup.
"Ross was seen and treated at the stadium yesterday by Graham Lawson, consultant orthopaedic surgeon," Said Scotland team doctor James Robson.
"He has been reviewed today at Spire Murrayfield Hospital and will now be in the care of shoulder specialist Miss Julie McBirnie for further assessment, which will give us a better indication of his rehabilitation schedule."
Edinburgh currently sit bottom of Pool One having failed to register a single point in their opening defeats to Saracens and Munster.
They face Racing Metro 92 in back-to-back December clashes, kicking off at Stade Yves du Manoir, and Rennie would have been crucial to their chances of keeping their slim European hopes alive.
Several other of their Scotland stars picked up knocks in the comprehensive loss including Geoff Cross (ribs), Matt Scott (shoulder), Nick De Luca (calf) and Tim Visser (flank), who grabbed two tries.
"In addition to Ross's injury there is the usual array of assorted soft tissue disruption associated with Test match rugby of yesterday's intensity," added Dr Robson.
"As ever, 48 hours post a match of such physicality will give us a better indication of how players are recovering."
