Lions coach Graham Henry must be praying for the season to finish without further mishap, as top candidates to tour Australia in June and July continue to be laid low by injury.

Last weekend was a costly one for Henry's chances of a smooth build-up to the Test series against the world champions, with a clutch of front-line likely Lions struck down.

Harlequins' Ireland hooker Keith Wood emerged from a seven-man scrummage against Leicester with a popped rib, and will be out for up to four weeks.

Scott Gibbs, like Wood a leading character on the victorious 1997 tour, broke a thumb in Swansea's Principality Cup defeat by Neath, and does not expect to play again before the squad fly out on 1 June.

"Apparently I have broken the thumb in the worst possible place and it proved difficult to set," said Gibbs. "It has turned out to be the most miserable weekend of my season."

Fellow Wales stars Rob Howley and Neil Jenkins are also out of action for the time being.

Both play for Cardiff, where a club spokesman today confirmed: "Neil had a clean-up operation on his knee last Thursday, and is currently resting at home. He is set to resume training next Monday [23 April].

"Rob has not played since the week before the Italy v Wales match, and has had a series of injections in his knee. He should be available for the match against Llanelli on 5 May.

"We also have a re-arranged league fixture against Caerphilly on Friday 11 May if any one needs to prove their fitness for the Lions tour."

There was a treble casualty report from Saracens' final Zurich Premiership match of the season against Newcastle last Sunday.

Saracens' England prop Julian White tore a calf muscle late in the game, and was today due for an ultra sound scan followed by treatment. Early indications are that White will be out of action for three to four weeks.

Scotland lock Scott Murray suffered a dead leg (quad haemotoma) in the first half, and struggled on late into the second before being replaced. He is hoping to return to training next week.

And for the second Premiership match running, Newcastle's England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson failed to last the course. Wilkinson had an x-ray on his neck after the Newcastle v London Irish match on 1 April, and was given the all-clear to play for England against France, but was helped off again against Sarries.

Two more Saracens stars, Danny Grewcock, who broke his jaw last month, and Dan Luger, a long-term absentee with a neck problem since England's win in Wales in February, are still in recovery mode.

And with the likes of Brian O'Driscoll, Phil Greening, Jeremy Davidson, Gregor Townsend, Mark Taylor and Phil Vickery - to name but a few - having already missed Test matches injured this season, the Lions' bill of health is a long way from being a clean one.