RUGBY: Shane Williams and Gavin Henson are both expected to be fit for Wales's Six Nations trip to France on February 27th but Nicolas Mas has definitely been ruled out for the hosts because of a strained left adductor.
Williams, the world player of the year, missed the 23-15 victory over England at the weekend after injuring his ankle in the tournament-opening win against Scotland.
Henson has missed both games with a calf injury and although neither player will feature for the Ospreys this weekend they are set to be ready for Wales’ Friday night fixture in Paris.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland is expected to discover the results of Jamie Roberts’ precautionary shoulder scan within the next 24 hours.
Roberts suffered the injury two minutes from time in Wales’ bruising win against England at the Millennium Stadium.
“I am hoping it won’t be that serious,” Roberts said after the match. “It was really hurting towards the end of the game. I was absolutely battered and bruised at the end and it was the toughest game I have ever played in.”
Gatland has released six players from national squad duty back to Magners League action this weekend.
The Ospreys will have Jonathan Thomas, who has recovered from shoulder problems, and Andrew Bishop available to face Connacht at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.
Bradley Davies, Robin Sowden-Taylor and John Yapp return to the Blues for their clash with Glasgow while Rhys Thomas has been released to play for the Dragons against Ulster.
Scrum-halves Gareth Cooper and Dwayne Peel have both had to return to their Guinness Premiership clubs, Gloucester and Sale Sharks respectively.
Mas, meanwhile, has been ruled out for France because of a strained left adductor. The Perpignan prop was replaced at half-time in Les Bleus' 22-13 victory over Scotland last Saturday with the injury.
And USAP have confirmed Mas will be sidelined for "at least two weeks", meaning he will miss the Wales showdown at the Stade de France.
With Benoit Lecouls (neck) also ruled out and Lionel Faure missing the Scotland win because of injury, the French have selection problems at prop.
Faure should be fit for the clash with the Grand Slam champions but there is increasing talk of a recall for experienced Stade Francais front-row forward Sylvain Marconnet, who has not played for France since the 2007 Six Nations.
Head coach Marc Lievremont will name tomorrow his 23-man squad for the game.
"We will see tomorrow," said Marconnet, who has played 71 times for his country. "I don't want to get myself too excited before it happens. If I am called up, it will be a great joy.
"But there will need to be a lot of work put in. It will be a big, big challenge for me."
Marconnet's last appearance for Les Bleus was a 32-21 win over Wales at the Stade de France just under two years ago.
Days after that game, he broke his leg while skiing with his family and he was not only ruled out of the rest of that Six Nations but also, in heartbreaking fashion, the World Cup later that year.
Only in the last few months has he really got his form back for the Parisian aristocrats.
"I feel good," he added. "I have strung some matches together with Stade Francais, and my sensations and pleasure have returned.
"I have finally shrugged off all the pain. The train has left and I don't know if I am going to be able to get in it. But if I am called on, I will get myself over to Marcoussis very quickly."
Perpignan centre Maxime Mermoz also sustained an injury against Scotland, but his thigh strain is not serious and he should be back for USAP's Top 14 match against Bayonne this weekend.
