Tom Curry handed England a Six Nations injury scare as Harlequins slipped to a third-straight Gallagher Premiership defeat.
Curry twisted his knee as his Sale side beat Quins 24-16 at The Stoop on Sunday.
The flanker trudged out of action early in the first half after failing to shake off the concern, and will now be a major doubt to be fit for England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham on February 4.
Manu Tuilagi could also add to new England boss Steve Borthwick’s availability issues, with the Sale centre running the risk of a citing.
Tuilagi slipped when racing in to tackle Tommy Allan, to wind up colliding shoulder-first with the Quins fly-half’s head.
Allan left the field via stretcher after length treatment, while Tuilagi escaped punishment on the field.
The England powerhouse could yet be in disciplinary bother though, should the authorities opt to review the incident in the coming week.
Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell could well receive a citing on Monday too, after his high shot in their 19-16 win at Gloucester on Friday night.
England’s temporary Six Nations attack coach Nick Evans was on day-job duty for Quins on Sunday, with the Twickenham men itching to hit back to form after losing to Bristol and Northampton.
Head coach Tabai Matson had warned Quins in advance that any side with genuine top-four and play-off ambitions should not be losing three in a row.
But in a miserable, rain-soaked south west London, Quins could never kick-start their attacking style.
So any big thoughts of sussing clues to England’s attacking revolution through Evans’ influence at Quins washed away with the driving rain.
Quins stay in the top-four for now, but this was a good chance to steal a march on rivals Gloucester, Exeter and Northampton.
Tom O’Flaherty, Rob Du Preez, Akker Van Der Merwe and Cobus Wiese claimed the scores for second-placed Sale, who continue their hugely impressive campaign.
Joe Marchant and Nick David crossed for Harlequins in an improved second-half, but the hosts were comfortably beaten in truth.
