Scotland's Six Nations hopes may have suffered yet another early blow after Martin Leslie suffered a further shoulder injury in Edinburgh Reivers' Welsh/Scottish League defeat at Glasgow Caledonians.
With Edinburgh team-mate Cammie Murray already set for the operating table, and ruled out of the entire Championship the loss of another high profile player would be a bitter blow for Ian McGeechan's Scotland squad.
Leslie's injury was a reoccurrence of the shoulder problems he had in the European game against Grenoble last weekend. "It is too early to say but it appears his original injury is also causing a problem with his neck," said Reivers' coach Ian Rankin. "We took him off as a precaution and hopefully he will be okay."
Ironically Shaun Longstaff did his chances of replacing the sidelined Murray in the national side a world of good by scoring a try in Caledonians' 47-10 rout in front of Scotland assistant coach John Rutherford.
Rutherford, in the stands at Hughenden, admitted the loss of Murray was a big blow to Scotland's Six Nations hopes but insisted there is strength in depth.
As one of only three wingers - Murray and Wasps' goal kicker Kenny Logan were the other two - in the squad for the recent World Cup, Wellington-born Longstaff is a clear favourite to be included in the Scotland side which will be chosen on Sunday evening.
"It is always sad when there is an injury and Cammie is very down," said Rutherford. "But it does mean an opportunity for someone else. Shaun Longstaff has had to sit on the bench for the last year and he is looking sharp and keen. We have been employing a squad system in training so it isn't too difficult to bring someone else in and there are a few candidates. "