Paul O'Connell and Frankie Sheahan are out of Ireland's autumn Tests.
Muster duo Paul O'Connell and Frankie Sheahan will miss Ireland's autumn Test programme due to injury.Lions lock O'Connell needs surgery on his left hand after damaging it during his first appearance of the season against Llanelli.
It had been hoped the injury would respond to rest, but doctors have now decided O'Connell requires an operation that will rule him out for at least another three weeks.
Hooker Sheahan damaged neck ligaments during Munster's Heineken Cup defeat by Sale and is out for between six and 12 weeks.
The pair's absence is a further blow to Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan who is already without captain Brian O'Driscoll (dislocated shoulder), Denis Hickie (dislocated fibula), Alan Quinlan (cruciate knee ligaments), Guy Easterby (broken jaw) and Eric Miller (bruised ankle).
A replacement hooker for Sheahan will be named on Sunday but O'Sullivan has decided not to replace O'Connell.
Meanwhile, Llanelli's Simon Easterby is also struggling for fitness after suffering a broken nose and faces a fitness test.
Ireland face autumn Test fixtures against New Zealand (Nov 12), Australia (Nov 19) and Romania (Nov 26) at Lansdowne Road.
