The Wales flanker, Martyn Williams, will miss this evening's EDF Energy Cup semi-final between Cardiff Blues and Northampton after yesterday failing a fitness test on a foot injury he picked up against Ireland last weekend.
It is another back-row blow for the Blues who were already without the Wales No8, Andy Powell, who pulled a thigh muscle in the final training session before Wales' Six Nations title decider against Ireland and is doubtful for next month's Heineken Cup quarter-final against Toulouse.
The Blues at least have international cover in both positions, with the All Black Xavier Rush replacing Powell and Wales' Robin Sowden-Taylor taking over from Williams, but Powell and Williams have played key roles in the Blues' two cup runs this season with the region yet to lose in the EDF or Europe.
The Blues have yet to win a trophy since their formation in 2003 and the Wales wing Leigh Halfpenny is looking to use today's game to jolt the Wales selectors, who dropped him earlier this month.
"It was disappointing, but if anyone had said at the start of the season that I would play in three Six Nations matches, I would have given them a very funny look," said the 20-year old, who won his first cap last autumn after impressing for the Blues in the EDF and Heineken Cup.
"The Blues have some big games coming up against Northampton and Toulouse and I am raring to go after sitting out the last couple of matches. I was the 24th man for Wales against Ireland last week and felt the disappointment of that defeat as much as the players. Reaching the EDF final would certainly provide a lift."
While the Blues are unbeaten in the cups they are near the foot of the Magners League, but Halfpenny rejected the suggestion that they have become solely a cup team. "A number of our league defeats were by very small margins and the losses in Leinster and Munster were contentious," he said.
"A couple more wins and we would be near the top of the table in what is a very competitive league. We are unbeaten against English sides this season, but we have not played as a team for a while and we know we are going to have to play as well as we did back in January and October against a very good Northampton side."
The Blues scrum-half Jason Spice is joining Bristol next season, and the Blues have signed the Wales scrum-half Gareth Cooper from Gloucester, while Shaun Perry's future at Bristol is in doubt with the club poised for the drop.
