Leinster have acute problems at prop with Cian Healy the latest doubt for Saturday's Pro 12 match against Munster at the Aviva Stadium.
Considering Jack McGrath, Marty Moore and Tadhg Furlong have all but been ruled out through injury, Healy may have to be included despite ongoing ankle concerns.
Earlier this week the province "reported no immediate injury concerns" but the attritional nature of the Six Nations will be evident when Matt O'Connor names his team at lunchtime tomorrow.
Healy played throughout the championship with a heavily strapped ankle that was put into a moon boot after matches. He had surgery following the Lions tour of Australia last year and again in December.
Remarkable recovery
The 26-year-old made a remarkable recovery to feature in Leinster's two European Pool matches in January, coming off the bench against the Ospreys and starting the Castres game. He then went on to start all five Ireland matches but was replaced by McGrath each time.
McGrath damaged his collarbone in the title-clinching victory at Stade de France on March 15th but Leinster categorically stated it was not a fracture, and that he “continues to be monitored . . as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury.”
Moore, having won his first five Test caps as a replacement for fellow Leinster tighthead Mike Ross this year, is also unavailable.
The 23 year old was forced into action against Zebre last Friday when Furlong damaged his ankle on 30 minutes only to be replaced by Jack O’Connell on 76 minutes.
“Tadhg Furlong who went over on his ankle in that same game, is awaiting the results of scans before a further update will be provided by the medical team,” added the Leinster injury update.
As it stands, Michel Bent will cover both sides of the scrum, he was initially signed from New Zealand as a tighthead prop and immediately capped by Ireland but has switched to loosehead in recent months, with the Bristol bound Jack O’Connell to provide further cover.
Rhys Ruddock’s recurring calf injury could make the backrow conundrum slightly easier for Matt O’Connor with only one international from Kevin McLaughlin, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip and Jordi Murphy to miss out on the starting XV.
Dominic Ryan is another candidate for openside flanker or the bench. Either way Ruddock should be available for Sunday week's trip to Toulon. Richardt Strauss (knee), Sean Cronin (neck) and Luke Fitzgerald (abductor muscle) are also said to be fit to play.
The 17 Leinster players used by Ireland coach Joe Schmidt this year are Rob Kearney, Dave Kearney, Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Fergus McFadden, Ian Madigan, Isaac Boss, Eoin Reddan, Moore, Healy, Ross, McGrath, Cronin, Devin Toner, Jordi Murphy, Rhys Ruddock (sub vs Italy) and Jamie Heaslip.
Paul O’Connell, Conor Murray, Peter O’Mahony and Tommy O’Donnell, who came off the bench against Scotland and Wales were the four Munster players selected.
Alain Rolland has replaced injured French referee Pascal Gauzere for Saturday’s sell-out clash. Despite Rolland’s Leinster roots, O’Connor and Munster coach Rob Penney “are fully in agreement that Alain is the best referee available”.
