Cardiff Blues coach David Young admits Wales centre Tom Shanklin's career is in doubt because of a knee injury.
And Shanklin, whose current contract current with the Blues expires in May, has expressed fears about his future.
Young admits discussions with the 31-year-old about his future continue as he tries to recover from surgery on his long-standing knee problem.
"Tom has said it's a nasty injury and it all depends on how his rehab goes," said Young.
But Young is refusing to write off such an influential player as Wales' double Grand Slam winner Shanklin, who had surgery on the knee in January.
"Tom's had the first part of his rehabilitation," said Young.
"And we will see how that progresses before he makes any decision whether want to continue playing or not.
"Our fingers are crossed that hopefully he'll recover from it and get playing. Only time will tell its early days and obviously that decision is further down the road."
The 2005 British and Irish Lion played throughout the 2010 autumn series for Wales but his season came to a sudden halt in early January after pulling up in a Magners League match against Aironi.
Scans revealed the severity of the injury, forcing Shanklin, whose career has been blighted by knee problems, to go under the surgeon's knife once again.
Shanklin, who missed the 2009 Lions tour to world champions South Africa because of a shoulder injury, has scored 20 tries in his 70 Wales caps since his international debut in Japan in 2001.
Shanklin, who joined the Blues from English side Saracens in 2003, has scored 28 touch downs in 114 appearances for the Welsh region but hopes he will able to add to that haul.
Yet while Shanklin's future is uncertain, the Blues have given extended contracts to Wales trio Leigh Halfpenny, Bradley Davies and Chris Czekaj.
Jamie Roberts and Sam Warburton have also signed new contracts recently.
"They are players who are very important to us. These boys are quality players," said Young.
"We're really pleased with their development and how they are moving forward.
"And we're really pleased as well that they want to be part of the Blues for the next couple of seasons.
"It obviously proves we're doing something right and it's important that we rebuild."
Dafydd Hewitt, Josh Navidi, Andries Pretorius and James Down have also signed Blues contract extensions.
Young said it was crucial that the Blues, who face the Ospreys in the Magners League on Saturday, were making plans for the future.
"We're looking forward to the future as well as the present," added Young.
"We've got a lot of players coming into the later years of their career so it's important that we are rebuilding with the quality youngsters we've got.
"Every team has to go through a bit of a transition period. That's not saying we want to step back or even stand still.
"It's important we move things forward and important as well when you are rebuilding that you are retaining the quality you have got.
"Where they've obviously been youngsters over the last couple of seasons, now they are going to have to start being leaders and senior players among the group."
