English skipper Phil Vickery will miss London Wasps’ first match as it looks to defend the Heineken Cup title, but is not expected to be out of action for long.

Vickery - last seen in the World Cup final 18 days ago, when he took a blow to the neck against South Africa – is likely to be back on the playing field soon.

“The prognosis after a scan on his neck is good,” Ian McGeechan, the Wasps director of rugby, said yesterday. “It’s a matter of physiotherapy, of giving it time to settle down.”

Wasps kicks off its Heineken Cup defence against a Munster team which expects to be without Irish international lock Paul O’Connell because of a back injury.

Wasps are known as slow starters and typically have to lose many of their international stars when the test season rolls around.

“We want to support England, but financially we’re being kicked to death,” McGeechan said. “We are taking the hit for our England players, during the World Cup and next year’s Six Nations.”

Wasps have a tough pool alongside Munster, Clermont Auvergne and Llanelli Scarlets.