Munster assistant coach Mike Prendergast has praised Conor Murray and Keith Earls for their reactions to being left out of the province's Heineken Champions Cup win against Northampton last week.
The centrally contracted Ireland internationals both missed out on the matchday 23 for Saturday's win against the Sharks, with Paddy Patterson preferred to Murray on the Munster bench, while Shane Daly and Calvin Nash beat out Earls on the wing.
The province travel to five-time champions Toulouse in their final pool game on Sunday, looking to ensure their place in the last 16 of the tournament, or maybe even a home tie in the next round should other results go their way.
And Prendergast says the pair are "back in the mix" for selection after what has been a challenging week.
"A real professional response," he said of their reaction to being dropped.
"They carried themselves so well in terms of their input on the pitch, but also off the pitch with team meetings. They're two pros who have been around the game for a long time.
"They were disappointed last week, last week is a different week to this week and they're back into the mix in terms of our selection discussions. We'll sit down over the next few days and see where we go from there.
"It wasn't easy for them, to be honest, but two good pros like them have been top notch for us.
"I think it's something we're trying to do, build that depth in the squad, in every position. Our squad depth is something we do see has progressed over the last couple of months, and that goes for any position within our squad.
"Guys have come in, got opportunities and have done well. Fortunately we still have a few lads to come back from injury which will put more pressure on, and that's what you want to get out of the squad, you want everybody being pushed, and for no one to be comfortable in their position."
The Munster attack coach seemed confident Jack Crowley will be fit to line out against Toulouse this Sunday.
The Ireland international, who has formed a promising centre partnership with Antoine Frisch in recent weeks, hasn't trained this week after picking up an ankle injury during the win against Northampton.
However Prendergast is hopeful he'll be available this week at Stade Ernest-Wallon.
"He took a bit of a knock there obviously and managed to finish out the game, and he took three points at a really important time for us. So he showed a lot as a character.
"Within that we've managed him during the week. He didn't train over the last two days. We’ve a day off tomorrow so that gives him an extra day to get right and we’ll assess and see how he is on Friday but we’d be confident enough that he can take his place within the squad for the weekend."
The squad trained at Thomond Park today, with RG Snyman (above) taking a small part in the session, as he continues his recovery from a second anterior cruciate ligament surgery.
Snyman has been sidelined since October 2021, with hopes he can return to action during the spring.
And while Prendergast says the province won't rush him back into action, it was heartening to see him have some involvement in team training.
"Incredibly good, I'm delighted for him as well, he's a top fella, a top player and great to see him out there today touching a ball again.
"Exciting for him first of all, exciting for us as a coaching staff, and exciting for the whole club.
"There will be no rush, in terms of exact dates we don't know but just to see him on the pitch at Thomond Park is a huge boost for everyone but most importantly himself."
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