The extended Munster squad of 32 players trained at "The Farm", UCC's training ground in Cork yesterday but the team management of Declan Kidney, Niall O'Donovan and Jerry Holland were no closer to being able to offer a definitive verdict on the walking wounded ahead of Saturday's Heineken European Cup semi-final against Stade Francais in Lille.
Indeed, the situation has deteriorated a little with the revelation that right wing John Kelly tweaked a hamstring in training yesterday: the queue for the treatment table gets ever longer. Scrumhalf Peter Stringer took no part in the session, his leg injury causing some concern as it has not responded adequately to treatment.
Compounding Stringer's problem is that Munster's third choice scrumhalf Mike Prendergast is nursing knee ligament damage but the expectation is that he will be fit, if required. Dominic Crotty took a limited part in the session while David Wallace did some light work but avoided any contact drills.
Kidney is prepared to wait until the last minute (Friday lunch-time) before deciding on the composition of the team. He will announce an extended squad to travel to France, today: it will probably number 27 players.
Meanwhile, in the AIB League Division One, Lansdowne could be without Liam Toland (shoulder) and Ray Niland (back) for Saturday's game against Belfast Harlequins. Dave O'Mahony is definitely out while Reggie Corrigan and Shane Horgan are expected to play.
Ballymena welcome back Gary Longwell for their trip to face St Mary's College. Andy Graham could move to the back row with Glen Cully tipped to keep his place at tighthead prop, even though Clarke Millar is available again after injury.
