One of Wales' regular squad members is set to miss the start of the Nations Championship next month

Cardiff centre Ben Thomas is set to miss the start of Wales' Nations Championship campaign next month, leaving Steve Tandy with a decision to make when he names his autumn squad next week.

The 27-year-old has only featured in five of Tandy's 12 Tests in charge, but he has been a constant feature in the Wales head coach's three squads to date. Alongside Joe Hawkins, Thomas is just one of two players to wear the 12 jersey under Tandy.

That all fits into the game model of Wales attack coach Matt Sherratt, who favours a play-making 12. However, with Thomas now a doubt for the start of next month's Nations Championship, Tandy has a decision to make on whether to include the Cardiff playmaker.

"Ben, unfortunately, picked up an injury in his calf, so he'll probably be out for a few weeks," said Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl after the centre missed the weekend's match against Leinster. "I think he'll still be able to definitely form part of the Nations Championship, but he might not recover for the first or second game."

That could see Tandy and Sherratt opt in favour of another option in midfield, with there already being a clamour for Eddie James - who has worn the 13 jersey in seven of the last eight Tests - to move one position inwards. To get the latest rugby news from WalesOnline in your search results, click here to add WalesOnline as a preferred source on Google

The news also comes just days after the Ospreys announced that Wales scrum-half Kieran Hardy would require surgery, facing months on the sidelines.

In more positive news, Wales back-row James Botham isn't expected to be out for too long, after missing the Blue and Blacks' trip to Dublin last Saturday.

"James just struggled with his finger, and obviously lower back, which ruled him out of last week," added van Zyl. "But we're confident he will turn it around, maybe not this week, but the week after."

Last week's defeat to Leinster had also been the match where Taulupe Faletau was in line to make his return from injury.

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Faletau was named in Cardiff's starting line-up on Thursday, although van Zyl admitted the Wales No. 8 still had to overcome a few niggles. In the end, the 35-year-old's comeback - having not played since March - was pushed back just minutes before kick-off.

"He was probably just a little bit uncomfortable in himself and the way he felt about his readiness to play the game," said van Zyl. "That's always what we say about players being honest, and that's the way I want to approach everything.

"Being honest with each other, and if you're not ready to go, then say it. That is exactly what happened.

"There are no major concerns in terms of long-term injuries or not being available potentially this week. There are no concerns of that."

On whether he will play in the next couple of weeks, van Zyl replied: "I believe so, 100%.

"That's definitely the plan. Like I said, it's nothing new, it's just whether we get him to a game."

Whether Tandy decides to consider Faletau when he names his squad next week remains to be seen. Cardiff take on Northampton in the Champions Cup on Sunday before facing the Sharks five days later in the URC.

Faletau's last-minute replacement on Saturday, Taine Basham, could easily be in line for a Test recall though, after a strong start to the season.

"I have to tip my hat off for him, because it was less than a minute to go to kick-off," said van Zyl. "All of a sudden, he had to strap his legs and and put his mouthguard in, so it was pleasing to see how he reacted to that situation. He performed really well, so credit to his character.

"If you look at the back end of last season, where he came into his right, and then this season's form, I've got no doubts they will definitely look at him."