Ferris is Ireland's chief injury worry

Stephen Ferris is Ireland’s chief injury concern ahead of the announcement of the Ireland team to face Italy in the RBS 6 Nations opener at Croke Park on Saturday, which takes place later today.

The Ulsterman was not with the Ireland camp last week having picked up a knee injury that required home rest.

Speaking after training on Monday, Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton said: ‘Stephen picked up his injury in Ulster's win over Bath, so he wasn't in camp last week. The advice was to keep him off his feet completely last week, which we did.

‘He's in camp this week, he didn't train today. So, calls will be made in the next couple of days. We think that he's still available for selection.’

Ferris could still be named in the team to face Italy but Sean O’Brien could yet be called in to replace him should the Ulster man not be deemed fit enough to take part.

Donncha O’Callaghan and Brian O’Driscoll only took a minor part in training.

McNaughton said: ‘Donncha (O'Callaghan) took a limited part in training. There's some concern about Brian and Donncha, but they aren't major worries. The guy we're more concerned about is Stephen.

‘Brian has a small quad strain. We expect him to train tomorrow (Tuesday). Donncha and Stephen have knee issues.’

Marcus Horan will not feature in the Ireland team to face Italy after being named in the A squad to play Scotland on the same weekend.

However, Rory Best and Jerry Flannery are both in contention to play at hooker.

Commenting on Best’s half of rugby against England Saxons, Ireland backs coach Alan Gaffney said: ‘We thought Rory went well, considering what he's come back from. He's battled back from a pretty serious neck injury.

‘To get through the 40 minutes he did on Sunday, in a fairly tough game against a young but experienced Saxons side, he did pretty well.

‘He could have played on but the advice was to take him off after 40, and we did. We were delighted with his (lineout) throwing, all aspects of his game."

Both Best and Flannery are in contention to play and Gaffney added: ‘In reality, both of them are very good players, very experienced players and they've been around the block a number of times.

‘And I think both of them would carry themselves very well in a Six Nations game right at this moment.’