Brennan was charged under tournament regulations with allegedly entering a stand at the Stade Ernest Wallon and assaulting Ulster supporter Patrick Bamford.

But he tonight secured a 24-hour High Court injunction, forcing the temporary adjournment of his European Rugby Cup disciplinary hearing.

Thomas, however, is still expected in Dublin to face the panel and answer accusations he engaged in “aggressive” and “offensive” behaviour towards Ulster supporters.

A guilty verdict and suspension would almost certainly rule Thomas out of Wales’ RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

It adds to the selection dilemma facing head coach Gareth Jenkins ahead of the official team announcement tomorrow lunchtime.

The odds are that Jenkins could also be without injured wingers Mark Jones and Shane Williams, neither of whom are optimistic of proving their fitness in time for selection.

Jones has the best chance as he tries to shake ankle ligament damage, while Williams was still hampered by a nagging hip problem in training.

The Ospreys winger set himself a deadline of tonight to prove he is ready but was not at all optimistic about making it.

He said: “I want to be playing on Sunday and I have been training my nuts off - I literally mean that! – to get back in time.

“But it has been a hard couple of weeks. The injury is in an area where I only need to cough to be reminded of it. It is an injury that no-one has – and I have had it twice. It is unbelievable.

“I struggled doing a few things in training yesterday that I would do easily on another day and you need to be 100% to play Ireland.”

If Jenkins loses Thomas to suspension, and at least one of the two wingers, he will have to name a patched-up back three, with Gavin Henson the likely full-back.

Employing Henson, and the huge kicking game he brings, in the 15 jersey would force Wales to play a different style against Ireland, the pre-tournament favourites.

Wales conducted in-depth analysis of the recent Tri-Nations – between New Zealand, Australia and South Africa – and discovered their tactical kicking game was way short of the levels required to compete with the worlds’ best.

Ireland fit into that mould with their astute and in-form fly-half Ronan O’Gara.

Neil Jenkins, Wales’ leading points scorer and now national kicking coach, said: “He is one of the best I have seen.

“He is Ireland’s main kicker. He varies their game very well and looks to pressure on your back three.”

“But I think we are improving already. We are trying to get a mentality of the boys who are not front-line kickers and that is coming.

“Gavin is a hugely talented player. He can play at 10, 12 or 15 and is one of our best kickers, especially punting the ball, and he has been goal-kicking well too.

“I thought he played very well in the Heineken Cup games for the Ospreys recently.

“His kicking is amazing and you think some of his kicks in training are going to take off!”

Jenkins will confirm his final team selection at 1.35pm tomorrow.