Wales have suffered a further injury blow with the news that hooker Matthew Rees will miss the Six Nations opener away to Ireland and next week’s home match against Scotland.

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The British and Irish Lion has a calf strain and is expected to be replaced by Huw Bennett with Ken Owens providing cover on the bench.

Wales Head coach Warren Gatland has said that they will not be calling up a replacement for Rees at this time.

Wales have a number of injury issues as centre Jamie Roberts, fly-half Rhys Priestland and flanker Dan Lydiate are all in danger of missing the trip.

Gatland has already lost loose-head prop Gethin Jenkins as well his first choice second row pair Alun Wyn Jones and Luke Charteris.

Priestland and Roberts both have knee problems and Lydiate is struggling with an ankle injury.

Gatland has therefore been forced to delay naming his team until Friday in order to see if the trio can reach fitness in time for the match.

“The next 48 hours is pretty critical and we are waiting to see how they are,” Wales assistant Rob Howley told the BBC earlier this week.

Roberts has not played a game of rugby this year and picked up the injury playing for Cardiff Blues against Newport Dragons in December.

Priestland meanwhile was injured playing for Scarlets against Castres in the Heineken Cup and Lydiate was helped from the field in Newport Gwent Dragons’ win against Prato.

All three players were taken with the Wales squad to Gdansk, Poland for the Six Nations training camp.

“In terms of their participation, it was very limited last week. Dan and Rhys probably did about two or three sessions but they were just limited to skills,” Howley added.

“They have come in this morning and they are a little bit sore after the weekend’s endeavours but we are obviously hopeful.

“Jamie participated a little bit more than Dan and Rhys but we are still uncertain. Jamie has not played for a long time, I think it’s around five or six weeks, so we are once again waiting to see how the next 48 hours goes.”

Priestland cemented his place as Wales fly half in the Rugby World Cup but if he is injured it is likely that James Hook will take over.