Wales will search for a first win in 16 Tests without the services of arguably their best finisher when they square up against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Wing Josh Adams has been ruled out of the match after failing to recover from a hamstring injury. The 29-year-old flyer, who has scored 21 tries in 61 appearances for Wales, played in the first two matches of the tournament but was unfit to face Ireland.
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Wales lost that match 27-18, extending their record run of Test defeats to 15 games, and are on course to finish bottom of the table for the second straight year.
Scrum coach Adam Jones confirmed on Tuesday that Adams has not recovered in time for the Edinburgh trip.
Wales fielded an all-Scarlets back three of Blair Murray, Tom Rogers and debutant Ellis Mee against Ireland and interim head coach Matt Sherratt looks unlikely to make many changes, if any, in his starting line-up.
Flyhalf Gareth Anscombe is available after recovering from a head knock.
Anscombe gained a recall from Sherratt after being left out of the Six Nations squad by former head coach Warren Gatland, who departed following a 22-15 defeat against Italy.
Fit-again Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake could feature in Wales’ matchday 23 following biceps surgery. Lake skippered Wales on tour to Australia last year and throughout the November Test window.
Jones added: “Dewi has been excellent, and it is good to have him back. He is a former captain and has been a big player for Wales in the last few years.”
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