England star Mike Tindall faces a long spell on the sidelines after sustaining a suspected broken leg at Saracens today.
The Bath centre was stretchered off after scoring the opening try in his side's 24-15 victory at Vicarage Road.
The World Cup winner was taken to hospital in Bath for X-rays fearing the worst after the injury sustained in the 10th minute of the Zurich Premiership clash.
If the problem is as serious as initially feared Tindall faces the prospect of missing most, if not all of England's defence of their RBS Six Nations title.
"We initially thought he had broken his leg and we did hear a crack," said Bath coach John Connolly.
"He thought he'd broken it because he was in so much pain around that area above the ankle but we can't say any more until he's had the X-rays. We're just hoping for the best."
Connolly revealed that Tindall sustained the injury as he twisted and gathered the ball on the try-line following Ollie Barkley's chip through the Saracens' defence.
"He did it bending down to pick the ball up and then got hit by a tackle," said Connolly. "Then he twisted and he knew something was wrong when he pushed off and got the ball down."
Bath's win was secured by an Andrew Higgins score, a penalty try and nine points from Barkley's boot to send them nine points clear at the top of the table. But they now have a major injury crisis in their back division to deal with.
Tindall's fellow World Cup team-mates Iain Balshaw and Mike Catt are out of action, centre Robbie Fleck and wing Brendon Daniel are long-term casualties and former England full-back Matt Perry limped out of Saturday's game with hamstring trouble.