Munster say Peter O'Mahony has "turned a corner" and expect the Ireland backrow to be in contention to face Exeter in round two of the Champions Cup.
The 33-year-old, who stepped down as Munster skipper last month, injured his shoulder during their BKT United Rugby Championship victory over the Stormers on 18 November.
The Cork man missed their derby defeat to Leinster and victory over Glasgow and won’t feature against Bayonne in their opening European fixture on Saturday (5.30pm).
However, the trip to Sandy Park on 17 December is a target.
"He has turned a corner, a good corner thankfully over the last week or two and all going well he will be available for us for next week," said attack coach Mike Prendergast.
The URC champions will be without lock Jean Kleyn (above), who is on an injury list that also includes South Africa team-mate RG Snyman after the Springboks forward was ruled out until the New Year with an eye injury picked up in the loss to Leinster."
Kleyn, who recently signed a new deal with the province, was almost an ever-present in last season’s title winning run.
"That’s the thing, he has been so durable but unfortunately injuries happen," said Prendergast.
"And it has happened to Jean, along with RG, two World Cup-winning second rows, it goes without saying for any team to lose them is a big loss.
"On the other hand it has opened the door and created opportunities for the likes of Edwin [Edogbo] in the second row and even Tom Ahern, who we pushed into the back row.
"I suppose if you look at the last two games and you speak about performances, they are two players who you talk about and mention.
Those two lads have taken their opportunities thankfully, which has softened the blow a small bit but when you lose players of the calibre and experience of the boys, it is a lot.
"But the two lads have stepped up as well and they are in amongst a world [class] player in Tadhg Beirne as well.
"We have Fineen Wycherley as well and in an area where you lose quality, we have a nice bit of quality there as well in terms of our back-five players and a lot of them are adaptable as well and that is kind of the way the game is going.
"The likes of Gavin Coombes who can cover second row as well. We can mix and match, we have Brian Gleeson there as well who has been featuring for us a couple of times off the bench.
"To lose them is huge but as I said there are lads who have stepped up as well."
Munster conceded five tries, all from lineout mauls, in their win over the Warriors at the weekend and Prendergast said it’s an area they need to work on ahead of the visit of Bayonne.
"From a defensive point of view, I suppose the access we allowed them last week was due to indiscipline and that’s what it came down to," he said.
"Glasgow have a strong maul. Graham [Rowntree, head coach] and Andy [Kyriacou, forwards coach] spoke to the forwards this week, they’ve looked at aspects of it, defence maul.
"It probably just highlighted that and they’ve worked hard on it and I’m sure they are going to put that right.
"That can be helped by us being more disciplined and not allowing that access.
"That’s something this week that we’ve got to be aware of because we are playing a team that statistically have a very good lineout and a heavy maul as well.
"Look, we know they’ll be coming looking for that. That’s in our hands to keep our discipline right and hold on to the ball as much as we can.
"When you hold on to the ball then you are doing less defending."
Watch Munster v Bayonne in the Champions Cup on Saturday from 4.45pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on www.rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
