LEIGH Halfpenny looks set to miss the start of Wales' Guinness Six Nations campaign.

The Scarlets full-back has not played since suffering concussion during Wales' victory over Australia on November 10.

Halfpenny has seen a specialist, and Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac has reported that the player would not feature for "three to five weeks".

Wales' opening Six Nations game is against France in Paris on Friday, February 1, followed by an appointment with Italy in Rome eight days later.

Liam Williams is now in pole position to wear 15 against Les Bleus with Dragons back Hallam Amos another option after he started all three summer Tests while the two Lions were rested.

Halfpenny went off late in the Australia match after being on the receiving end of a late challenge from Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi, who avoided any punishment.

The 30-year-old was selected to play for the Scarlets against Cardiff Blues 10 days ago, but was a late withdrawal after suffering headaches.

He sat out the derby win against the Dragons on Saturday and Pivac has now revealed the outcome of 80-times-capped Halfpenny's further medical assessment.

"Leigh has seen the specialist and won't be used for the next three to five weeks," said Pivac, who will replace Warren Gatland as Wales boss after the World Cup.

"He will continue training and doing what he's been doing, and then he will be reassessed.

"It will be somewhere between three to five weeks, but these things take time. That's the time-frame we're looking at.

"Leigh won't play before that time, that will be the earliest. We will pass on the medical information to the Welsh Rugby Union.

"That will then be Warren's call as to what he does, because the tournament runs for longer than that.

"He's running, he's training, and from time to time I think he's been having bouts of (headaches).

"He's as frustrated as anybody is, but his health and well-being comes first.

"Lots of players have come back from it (concussion) before. Justin Tipuric and Aaron Shingler have had spells out, and both those players have returned to the top of their game at some point.

"There's no reason why that won't happen with Leigh."

The Dragons' Wales back row forward Ross Moriarty is also currently sidelined after reporting symptoms of concussion following the December encounter with Clermont Auvergne.

The Lions tourist, who was forced off in the opening stages of the autumn win against South Africa after a blow to the head, missed the three festive derbies and will not be considered for the Challenge Cup clash with Timisoara Saracens on Friday.

Gatland also has injury concerns over flankers Dan Lydiate (arm) and James Davies (knee), loosehead Nicky Smith (ankle) and lock Bradley Davies (knee).

Former Dragons number eight Taulupe Faletau will soon return to action with Bath after being out since October with a broken arm.

Scarlets blindside Aaron Shingler will not return until March from a knee injury suffered at the end of last season and Cardiff Blues flanker Ellis Jenkins is out until the summer after rupturing knee ligaments against the Springboks.