Ospreys star Jonathan Spratt has had surgery on his damaged knee ligament.
The 24-year old centre suffered a ruptured ACL in a pre-season game against a regional select XV three weeks ago and, after going under the knife, now faces a lengthy rehabilitation schedule.
But Ospreys head physio Chris Towers thinks he could yet play a part this season and is optimistc that that will come about.
Towers told the region’s website: "Jonathan has had an ACL reconstruction and is already back in the treatment room, working daily in the very early stages of rehab.
"It will be a long process for him, but we will work as hard as we can to get him back towards the end of the season. If we are going to achieve that target, he is aware that he will have to put in a lot of hard work with the medical team, but we will give him all the support he needs."
The two-times Wales capped player himself added: "Obviously I'm really disappointed to be out injured again but I can't afford to let it get to me," he said.
"I was really looking forward to the new season and hopefully getting some game time under my belt to make up for last year, and was really enjoying pre-season until this happened.
"You can't do anything about these things, you just have to take it on the chin and focus on getting back in the right shape. I've got the best medical and conditioning team I could want to help me, and I've got to be optimistic about playing again as soon as possible."