A neck injury to Robin McBryde will sideline the Wales and Scarlets hooker for up to three months. The 34-year-old has been diagnosed with an acute prolapsed disc, which is likely to rule him out of Wales' four November internationals.
McBryde will also miss the beginning of the Scarlets' season, including the first two rounds of the Heineken Cup.
"It's a mystery. I didn't feel anything happen and it's not where the wear and tear usually happens," he said.
"Obviously you've got to be sensible with an injury of this nature, so three months was mentioned without even thinking of doing anything."
A specialist has advised to wait and see whether surgery will be necessary, but McBryde has been ordered to take a prolonged period of rest.
It is a huge blow for the player in his testimonial year, in which he is also hoping to win a place on the Lions tour to New Zealand after injury cut short his tour to Australia in 2001.
"I am disappointed because it's the first pre-season I've done in a few years, so I felt I'd benefited from that," McBryde added.
"There's no good time to have an injury but I could have timed it a bit better.
"I suppose the only up side is that I'll have a bit more time to spend to organise events for my testimonial.
"But it's no way to celebrate spending 10 years at the club."
McBryde missed Wales's summer tour to Argentina and South Africa because of a shoulder injury, after being a key performer at the World Cup in Australia.
His injury could now leave Wales with a front-row dilemma.
Mefin Davies, who was first-choice hooker in McBryde's absence during the summer, will play his rugby with semi-professional outfit Neath next season, having failed to secure a regional contract.
Huw Bennett, the next in line in the Wales squad, is second-choice hooker at the Ospreys behind Barry Williams - who has retired from international rugby.
The Scarlets have Aled Gravelle as their second-choice hooker, but will need to bring on another No 2.
They face European and Zurich Premiership champions Wasps next Friday in a pre-season friendly, which will be shown live on BBC Wales Scrum V.
Their first Celtic League match takes place on 3 September at Borders.
MMIX
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