Ospreys set to lose Shane

The former IRB World Player of the Year injured a hamstring when playing for Wales against Australia at the weekend.

Williams has since undergone a scan and the Ospreys are waiting to receive the results before giving an indication as to when the 32-year-old will return to action.

However, it is expected that the Ospreys will be without one of their star names until the start of the New Year, with the injury likely to take between four and six weeks to heal fully.

The Ospreys are back in Magners League action on December 5 when they host reigning champions Munster at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea.

They then face Italian side Viadana in a European double header before completing 2009 with a mouth-watering derby clash at the Scarlets on Boxing Day.

The news is a further blow for the Ospreys' chances of regaining the Magners League crown they won in 2007.

Scott Johnson's men are already without 2009 British & Irish Lions stars Lee Byrne and Adam Jones, as well as the likes of Jamie Nutbrown and Gavin Henson.