 Shane Williams' dream 2008 has ended on a sour note |
Ospreys boss Sean Holley expects Shane Williams to be fit for their 9 January Magners League clash against Munster.
The Wales wing has missed their last two games with a shoulder injury and is a concern for the January Heineken Cup games against Perpignan and Leicester.
But Holley said: "We have given him an injection, some rest and hopefully that will be sufficient for the European games (on 17 and 24 January).
"At the moment our physio is telling me he could be available for Munster."
Holley added: "Shane has a rotator cuff strain and it is a little bit more serious than we first thought.
"He did it out in Treviso (on 13 December) and landed awkwardly on an elbow and therefore there is a bit of damage there.
"We are taking a sensible view not to rush him back with some big games coming up. Whether it will need further exploration we don't know yet."
International Rugby Board player of the year Williams missed his side's 20-6 win over the Scarlets on Saturday after having treatment on Tuesday to help settle the problem in the "short term".
He will also miss the New Year's Eve Magners League derby with Cardiff Blues.
Williams - Wales's leading try scorer with 44 from 61 caps - was a Lions Test player in 2005 and hopes to tour again in 2009.
In a golden 2008, the Glanaman man helped Wales to the Grand Slam, won the RBS Six Nations Player of the Year award and was voted BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year as well as taking the IRB accolade.
Williams scored decisive tries in four of Wales' five Six Nations wins.
His score in the Grand Slam decider against France - the 41st of his international career - broke Gareth Thomas's all-time Welsh try record.
The winger went on to lift the EDF Energy Cup with the Ospreys, before outshining Bryan Habana on Wales' summer tour to South Africa.
The autumn Test series proved more challenging, but Williams was back to his best against Australia.
He scored the stunning opening try as Wales triumphed 21-18 to claim a rare Tri Nations scalp.