Andrew Bishop lined out for Wales in midfield in their autumnal clash with the Wallabies in Cardiff © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Andrew Bishop

Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations | Heineken Cup

Teams: Ospreys | Wales

Wales have been rocked by the news that Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop will miss the majority of their Six Nations campaign through injury.

Bishop, who provided midfield bench cover during the autumn Tests, was expected to secure a place in Wales' Six Nations squad when it is announced on January 24. The 25-year-old took a knock to his ankle in his region's Magners League clash with Cardiff Blues on New Year's Eve and an MRI scan has now revealed ligament damage.

Bishop's injury is also bad news for the Ospreys, who take on London Irish in a must-win Heineken Cup clash at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday. Commenting on Bishop's injury, Ospreys physio Chris Towers said, "In light of the location of the injury, we are anticipating that he could be out of action for up to eight weeks."

The news is just the latest blow for Wales coach Warren Gatland who has recently lost the services of prop Gethin Jenkins, who has been ruled out of the entire tournament with a toe injury, while scrum-half Richie Rees is banned until late March.

The one beneficiary of Bishop's misfortune is likely to be his former regional team-mate Gavin Henson who recently returned to the game with English side Saracens after 18 months out because of injury and personal issues. He is only three games into his attempted but with Bishop sidelined and Blues centre Tom Shanklin also still a fortnight shy of a return to full fitness, his prospects have improved prior to the Wales squad announcement.

On a positive note for Gatland though, Wales fullback Lee Byrne is set to begin his comeback from injury off the Ospreys bench against Heineken Cup opponents London Irish on Sunday. Wing Shane Williams, meanwhile, could feature when the Ospreys conclude their Heineken pool campaign against Toulon tomorrow week. Williams, a former world player of the year, has been out since suffering a shoulder injury during Wales' loss to South Africa two months ago.