Former Wales and Lions forward Scott Quinnell could retire early because of a series of ongoing injury problems. The 32-year-old number eight intended to retire from playing at the end of this season but could now have played his last match for the Scarlets.
With just four games of the season left, time is running out for Quinnell to wear the Scarlets jersey again.
"He is finding it difficult because he is picking up recurring injuries," coach Nigel Davies told BBC Sport.
"And at the moment we are not hopeful he will play for us again, but we are doing everything we can so he can give us a couple of performances before the end of the season."
The former Wales captain has been suffering with knee problems and has recently had an operation on his hand.
Quinnell, son of former Wales and Lions forward Derek, first joined Llanelli as an 18-year-old in 1990.
The bruising young number eight went on the make 146 appearances, scoring 32 tries before a �400,000 move to rugby league and Wigan in 1994.
By that time he had already been capped by the Wales rugby union side and returned to the 15-man code with Richmond in 1997, before rejoining Llanelli on Richmond's demise in 1998.
A tougher and even more physically imposing player after his spell with Wigan, Quinnell went on to win 52 Wales caps, captaining his country on seven occasions.
He also won three Lions caps, scoring a try in the first Test win over Australia in 2001.
It had been hoped Quinnell's glorious career would be capped by a fittingly gutsy last hoorah for the Scarlets.
While the region have not given up hope of having him before the end of the season, they are considering a five-minute run on for the player in their final game if he does not recover.
Scarlets coach Davies said: "We are obviously looking at something like that because he deserves a grand exit, but we have to wait and see first, to establish where he is fitness-wise."
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He deserves a grand exit
