Wales have been dealt another blow ahead of Sunday's RBS Six Nations tie against Ireland with the news that hooker Matthew Rees has been ruled out through injury.
Warren Gatland, is already without a number of key players and is sweating over the availability of several others for the trip to Ireland, will be without Rees after he suffered a calf strain.
The Scarlets front-row missed the entire World Cup through injury and the latest setback will see him spend the next fortnight on the sidelines.
Huw Bennett and Lloyd Burns covered for Rees in New Zealand but it will be down to Bennett and Ken Owens to step into the breach in Dublin.
Gethin Jenkins, Alun Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris have all been ruled out, while Jamie Roberts, Rhys Priestland and Dan Lydiate are all doubts for the match.
Assistant coach Rob Howley is hopeful the trio will recover and as a result Gatland has decided not to name his starting XV until Friday.