Dan Lydiate: Ospreys flanker's shoulder injury 'not long-term'

Dan Lydiate has made 51 senior appearances for Wales

Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate should not be a long-term injury absentee, according to the Welsh region.

The Wales international, 28, collided with team-mate Aaron Jarvis during the 12-7 win over Newport Gwent Dragons.

Forwards coach Chris Gibbes said it was a relief the shoulder injury was not as bad as first feared.

Lydiate and Fiji centre Josh Matavesi (calf) are doubtful for Friday's Pro12 visit of Leinster but prop Dmitri Arhip (rib) looks almost certain to miss out.

"They were three pretty significant injuries for us during that game [against the Dragons]," admitted Gibbes.

"We're still checking day-to-day with Josh, we're hoping that's not too bad with the calf.

"Dmitri, it's his ribs and those injuries take a while to get right.

"But there's nothing broken with any of them which is good, or torn in the case of the calf, so we've just got to manage it day-to-day.

"Dmitri's going to struggle but the other two we'll assess as we go. Lydiate has got a stinger and he's just working through that day-to-day."

New Zealand scrum-half Brendon Leonard is set to return to action after missing the two Christmas holiday fixtures because of the birth of his daughter on Christmas Eve.

Dan Lydiate was taken off the field during Friday's game against Dragons

'Going up the Pro12 ladder'

Despite five wins in a row in the Pro12, taking the Ospreys up to seventh place after a poor start during the World Cup, Gibbes is still critical of the level of his team's performances.

"It's the performance we're after, and even with the big names coming back in we still haven't performed to where we need to be as a team," he said.

"As a squad, all of us have to have a good look at that. Clearly we're still climbing the ladder in the Pro12 but we need a good performance to get the result against Leinster.

"We're going up the ladder rather than down which is pleasing, then we chase that top four."

Leinster will travel to the Liberty Stadium on the back of a home win over Connacht, with eight wins and two defeats leaving them second in the table.