Shane Warne's World Cup chances brightened on Monday after doctors examined his shoulder and decided to leave it to heal.

It was welcome news for Australian cricket after last night's injury to one of its most important players.

"I'm happy with the scenario and I'll do whatever it takes to get back on deck as soon as possible," Warne said.

The initial prognosis of a four- to six-week break from the game remained, meaning Warne might play in the Cup tournament in South Africa from next February.

But selectors have to pick a new spinner for the last two Ashes Tests and have a contingency plan if Warne does not recover in time for the Cup.

The leg-spin genius suffered a dislocation in his right bowling shoulder at the MCG in an innocuous fielding accident.

Specialist Greg Hoy operated on Warne this afternoon, with Australian Cricket Board medical officer Trefor James also present.

"There were no particular problems found, apart from ligament and cartilage damage, which is what is expected with this injury," Dr James said.

"In the long-term, I would expect him to resume bowling without any problems and, in the short term, we're looking at a time-frame of four to six weeks.

"I don't think I could be definite, I think at the moment we're hopeful that he'll be available (for the Cup).

"We'll be in a better position in a couple of weeks' time, depending on how he progresses."

Hoy performed an arthroscopy, inserting two probes in the shoulder.

One of the probes, about a half-centimetre thick, contained a tiny video camera and that enabled the doctors to thoroughly assess the injury.

They did not have to do any repair work on the joint and the use of the probes meant the procedure caused no further damage to the shoulder.

Dr James was confident Warne would be able to bowl without restriction when he resumed and said the only risk of re-dislocation was with throwing.

He described that risk as low, but Warne will probably spend even more time in his usual fielding spot of first slip.

"That's where he fields, so it's a good spot for him to stay," Dr James said.

Warne was due to leave hospital tonight and start rehabilitation next week after resting the joint.

Hoy performed reconstructive surgery on the shoulder four years ago because of wear and tear, but Dr James said the outcome of that operation had been "excellent".

Dr James added Warne had been "very diligent" in his rehabilitation from previous injuries and tended to heal well.

Meanwhile, the first job for the national selection panel will be finding a replacement for Warne ahead of the tri series match against Sri Lanka on December 22 in Perth.

Then it has to find another spinner for the fourth and fifth Test matches in Melbourne and Sydney.

National selection convenor Trevor Hohns admitted the next few days would be tough for the selectors.

"We've certainly got a lot of thinking to do," Hohns said.

"We, as a group of selectors, have several options."

The selectors are trying to gain clarification from the International Cricket Council about picking a player to replace Warne from outside the final World Cup squad.

They would use that option if Warne did not recover in time, with New South Wales leggie Stuart McGill the obvious choice.

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