Wales and Blues back rower Andy Powell has been ruled out of Wales' upcoming Tests against South Africa and the All Blacks with a thigh injury.
The controversial player was dropped from the Six Nations squad earlier this year after and indiscretion with a golf buggy but earned a recall for Wales June Tests.
Powell had been named to play South Africa this week but pulled up in training on Tuesday and has now been replaced by Scarlets back row Rob McCusker.
The back rower had a scan on his thigh which revealed a tear to his left thigh muscle which will rule him out of not only this weekend's match abut also Wales' two-Test tour of New Zealand.
Dragons flanker Gavin Thomas who earned his last cap on Wales June tour to Australia in 2007 has been called into the squad from the reserve list and will replace Powell on the upcoming tour.
"Rob has been around the squad for some time and was unlucky to miss out on the tour to America and Canada with us last summer after being named in the larger initial squad," Wales assistant coach Robin McBryde told the Western Mail.
"He is a tough young prospect and it is only a matter of time before he gets his chance and wins that first cap and if we need him on Saturday he won't let us down.
"Gavin is an experienced player with over 20 caps who has had some injury problems over the last few years, but he is fighting fit now and has impressed everyone in training.
"It's obviously disappointing to lose someone of Andy Powell's quality, but Gavin now has a chance to make and impact and he, like Rob, won't be taking that chance lightly."
Wales physiotherapist Mark Davies added: "Andy has a grade two injury to his left thigh which effectively sidelines him for a minimum of four weeks and leads to his omission from the tour."
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