Wales will find out on Sunday if Ashley Williams can lead his team into their Euro 2016 quarter-final.
The Wales skipper will undergo scans on his shoulder to determine his fitness for the next stage of his country’s epic adventure in France on Friday when they will play either Belgium or Hungary for a place in the last four.
Williams injured himself colliding with Jonny Williams during the late stages of Wales’ last 16 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in Paris on Saturday.
Wales manager Chis Coleman said: Ash is a bit tender with his shoulder. The next 24 to 48 hours will be key, whether it’s bruising and just impact, or whether there’s damage to any ligaments or a tear in his muscle. Hopefully, it’s not that.
“We won’t really know until tomorrow, but he was struggling. He couldn’t move his arm. I was going to take Ash off and had got James Collins ready to come on. But he said he was okay to continue and I trust my captain.
“I’ve no reason not to, the service he’s given Wales has been incredible. I’d like to keep him on pitch, keep his presence out there for us and he made one or two important blocks.
“I’m delighted for Ash. It hasn’t always been sunshine for us, but he’s been a constant through everything and thoroughly deserves it.”
If Williams was ruled out, then West Ham defender Collins would be the likely starting replacement with the captaincy passing to Aaron Ramsey.
Coleman admitted Wales were not at their best at the Parc des Princes and certainly way below the standards they had reached in their 3-0 victory over Russia in their final group match.
But, regardless of the manner in which they got there, Coleman urged Welsh fans to enjoy these moments and dare to dream the impossible.
“My message to the fans is to get carried away – to keep dreaming. Why not? They’ve waited enough time for this and are entitled to enjoy every minute of it.
“We had no idea in terms of what was going to happen with the reaction from Wales. But it’s off the chart, the impact it’s made – it’s absolutely incredible.
“We wanted to come here and do our country proud and we have done. Sometimes in these games, you can have a little bit of good luck and sometimes you can have a little bit of bad luck.
“This time we had the good luck, Northern Ireland the bad luck. It was unfortunate for big Gareth McAuley.
“The game wasn’t pretty, we had to fight hard. Our players had to keep focus and discipline and it was always going to be a little bit of luck that would win it.
“We didn’t play well, that’s down to Northern Ireland who stopped us playing the way we wanted. It was an ugly win for us, but who cares?”
As to his preference for opponents in the quarter-final, Coleman said: “Whoever comes in front of us will pose different problems. But we will worry about that tomorrow, this is about today.
“We know Belgium very well, having faced them in last two campaigns. We lost the first game, drew two away and beat them at home last time.
“They are a top team and have quality throughout. But Hungary have given something extra to the tournament and they play with a lot of spirit.
“I can’t say I prefer this one or that one. It’s a quarter-final. It doesn’t matter who you play. It’ll be another tight game, with not a lot given either way.”