Sam Warburton has been ruled out of action for six weeks with a shoulder injury.
The Cardiff Blues flanker suffered the injury during Wales's Grand Slam-clinching win over France earlier this month.
A shoulder specialist confirmed that the 23-year-old damaged an axillary nerve during the 16-9 victory.
The news means that the Wales captain will miss the Blues' Heineken Cup quarter-final with Leinster, but should be fit to lead Wales on their tour to Australia in the summer.
"It's not going to be months and months and months like I first anticipated," Warburton said.
"It would nice to join up with the Blues sooner rather than later.
"I owe the Blues a bit to be honest because I've been away for the Six Nations campaign and now I'm going to miss a few more matches."
The Blues are currently seventh in the PRO12 table, six points off a place in the play-offs.
