Thomas hopes to become the first Welshman to win 100 caps

The 33-year-old captain suffered a rib cartilage injury in Saturday's 32-20 defeat by Australia after clashing with Stirling Mortlock.

Thomas had feared the injury could have ended his Wales career, but he is now expected to be fit in two weeks' time.

"His injury is very much a short-term one, similar to that of Sonny Parker," said Wales coach Gareth Jenkins.

"He should be back and available to us in two weeks.

"We were always mindful of reacting too quickly to his injury before proper time and consideration had been given to assessing him, but this news does come as a real shot in the arm for us."

Thomas will therefore miss the final two Pool B games against Japan [20 September] and Fiji [29 September], but he should be available for any potential quarter-final match.

GARETH THOMAS Born: 25.7.74, Ogwr, Wales Position: Centre, wing, full-back Clubs: Bridgend (twice), Cardiff, Celtic Warriors, Toulouse, Cardiff Blues Wales debut: v Japan 27.05.95 Wales caps: 99 (39 tries) Lions caps: 3 (1 try)

If he plays, Wales' record-try scorer will become the first Welshman to win 100 caps.

Such a prospect looked distinctly unlikely on Sunday as both the Wales medical team and Thomas himself braced themselves for the worst.

"I've had a similar injury before," said Thomas on Monday. "My gut feeling is that I'm out for six weeks.

"I'd never retire but, if I'm honest, they should be planning for the next World Cup and shouldn't pick me."

But a scan on Tuesday revealed only slight cartilage damage, and Wales will give their captain every opportunity to prove his fitness.

Thomas was taken off in the 22nd minute against Australia following a heavy tackle from Wallabies captain Mortlock.

The challenge looked to be payback after Thomas had put in a late hit on Berrick Barnes as the rookie Australia fly-half sent Matt Giteau in for the opening try.

Having had a reputation as something of a maverick in his early career and been out of favour in the Graham Henry era, Thomas emerged as a senior player and a squad talisman under Steve Hansen.

When Mike Ruddock took over as coach in 2004 he appointed Thomas as captain.

Although injured in the Six Nations game against France, Thomas stayed with the squad as they marched triumphantly to the 2005 Grand Slam, and helped his club Toulouse win the Heineken Cup later in the year.

He made the summer Lions tour to New Zealand, starting all three Tests and taking over the captaincy when Brian O'Driscoll was injured.

But Thomas was embroiled in the turmoil of the 'Ruddockgate' affair as Wales' Grand Slam coach departed in 2006.

Thomas made an infamous appearance on BBC Wales' Scrum V rugby show to defend the squad in the Ruddock affair, and later that night collapsed with a ruptured artery in his neck.