Mike Catt is set to continue his player-coach role to help London Irish out of yet another fly-half crisis caused by new signing Chris Malone's serious hamstring injury.

Malone, who will join from Harlequins in the summer, was injured in the Heineken Cup defeat to Leinster two weeks ago and has since undergone surgery, ruling him out of the start of next season.

Quins and Irish will meet in the Premiership semi-final on 9 May with 37-year-old Catt still a key figure in the playing squad despite also having the attack coach role.

Toby Booth, the Irish director of rugby, said: "Catty is due to become the full time attack coach at the start of next season but we are going to be without Chris for three months. If Catty is a player then that has ramifications in terms of the salary cap. If he wants to keep playing then he could start at No10 next season because there are not many 37-year-olds in better nick."

Meanwhile, Paul Sackey's gamble to make the Lions tour by playing against Bristol two weeks ago despite a "slight crack" in his leg, has ruled him out of action for this summer.

The London Wasps wing broke his fibula playing for England against Ireland in February but after speaking to club coaches Ian McGeechan and Shaun Edwards, who are also in charge of the Lions, he played against Bristol with extra protection around his shin.

However, he received a heavy blow in the same area and said: I was sort of told . . . if I did play in it and got through it without any problems, then I could be involved with the Lions. I took the gamble, played in it, first tackle, two minutes in, I knew that it wasn't right and I have had a scan and I have broken my fibula."