Munster winger Anthony Horgan has intensified the Heineken Cup finalists' injury problems by joining the long-term casualty list.
New coach Alan Gaffney, who has lost David Wallace and Paul O'Connell to lengthy spells on the treatment table, could be without Horgan until early next year.
The Ireland A back, who had been selected in the 37-man Ireland training squad due to meet in Limerick on Sunday, had an MRI scan on a persistent shoulder injury yesterday and is to have surgery in the next two weeks that will keep him out until at least January.
That will force Horgan to miss the Celtic League campaign and all but the final two Heineken Cup group games. A broken bone in his hand on the eve of last May's Heineken Cup final against Leicester forced him to miss Ireland's summer tour to New Zealand and he will now not be considered for the World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Georgia next month or the autumn internationals against Australia, Fiji and Argentina.
But Gaffney has had some good news on the injury front with second row O'Connell's likely absence from action being reduced from six months to four following back surgery.
The Australian moved quickly to cover the six-month loss of Lions flanker David Wallace, who had a shoulder operation two weeks ago, by signing former Munster man Eddie Halvey from London Irish.