Tom Shanklin could discover today whether his dreams of touring South Africa with the British and Irish Lions have been left in tatters by a dislocated shoulder.

The powerful Wales centre walked gingerly off the Arms Park pitch with his right arm wrapped in his Cardiff Blues shirt late on in last night's 26-12 Magners League victory over Newport Gwent Dragons.

Shanklin, who had earlier scored a try, appeared to pop the joint as he crashed to the floor in contact, and was immediately whisked off to hospital for an x-ray after club medics put the shoulder back in place.

The 29-year-old had been pencilled in for a possible place in the Lions Test side, when his physical presence would have been a potentially vital asset against the muscular Springboks.

Shanklin's injury, just 18 days before the party departs, is another major concern for Lions head coach Ian McGeechan, who has had his fair share of troubles since announcing a 37-man tour squad last month.

Munster and Ireland scrum-half Tomas O'Leary was ruled out of the 10-match trip just three days after being selected for it due to a broken ankle suffered on Magners League duty.

McGeechan and his coaching staff have yet to choose a replacement, although a decision is likely after this weekend's Guinness Premiership play-offs, with England's Danny Care among the leading candidates.

And Munster flanker Alan Quinlan could be another casualty - but for for totally different reasons.

Quinlan was cited for allegedly making contact with the eyes or eye area of Leinster skipper Leo Cullen during last Saturday's Heineken Cup semi-final in Dublin that Leinster won 25-6.

Quinlan now faces a disciplinary hearing, with the possibility of a lengthy ban. England flanker Tom Croft and Wales captain Ryan Jones would be among the contenders to replace him.

Shanklin, a Lion in New Zealand four years ago whose tour was ended by injury on that occasion, now faces a race against time with the first tour match against a Highveld XV in Rustenburg looming large on May 30.