The extent of the knee injury to Conor McGuinness should be clarified today when the St Mary's and Ireland scrum-half undergoes a scan. McGuinness, already troubled by shin and ankle injuries, was taken off during his club's AIB League defeat to neighbours Terenure on Saturday.

However, fears that the knee ligaments were damaged have receded and Irish manager Pat Whelan yesterday reported that McGuinness has "made a rapid recovery and was infinitely better after a night's rest. It seems as if the injury could be more muscular and the scan is more of a precautionary measure, although we should know more by tomorrow."

Were McGuinness to be ruled out, he would become the 12th leading Irish player to be sidelined this season. However, Whelan expects the likes of Eric Miller, David Corkery and Keith Wood back in contention. Against that, Richard Wallace was again sidelined at the weekend, while Jonathan Bell completed what was only his second full game of the season - both with Northampton's seconds.

As things stand, Whelan expects the team to play Italy on Saturday week to be picked on Tuesday night in Limerick, where Irish coach Brian Ashton is conducting his latest provincial clinic. If so, the team would most probably be announced in Dublin on Wednesday, or possibly Thursday morning.

(See also pages 4 and 5)