 Bishop is out at a crucial stage of the Ospreys' season |
The Ospreys are facing a midfield crisis following centre Andrew Bishop's thumb injury. The 22-year-old broke a bone in his thumb in the league win over the Blues, and he will miss the crunch Heineken Cup games with Gloucester and Bourgoin.
"If he has an operation or not, he will need around six weeks," Ospreys physio Chris Towers told the Evening Post.
Sonny Parker, Gavin Henson and Mark Taylor are also out of the Leinster game, Parker doubtful for Europe.
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Youngsters Gareth Owen and Jonathan Spratt start at the RDS Showground against Leinster, a first regional game for 21-year-old Neath centre Spratt.
Saturday's clash at the Magners League leaders could prove crucial to the Ospreys' fading hopes of retaining the Celtic title.
But much of the planning of the star-studded west Glamorgan side's season has been based around the Heineken Cup.
Gloucester visit the Liberty Stadium next week and the Ospreys travel to Bourgoin in a fortnight.
Two victories would almost certainly guarantee Lyn Jones' team a place in the quarter-finals as one of the two best runners-up from the group stages.
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