Munster assistant Denis Leamy wouldn't be drawn on reports that flanker Peter O'Mahony could leave the province at the end of the season.
O'Mahony, who stood down as the Munster captain earlier in the season, is headed towards an uncertain future, with reports he hasn't been offered a contract by either the IRFU or the province for next year.
The 34-year-old flanker is currently on an IRFU central contract which is due to end this summer, and should the union decide not to renew it, it would fall on Munster to fund a deal to retain his services.
The Irish Times have reported that Munster are yet to put a deal on the table for their former captain, who has played 179 times for the province, in addition to 101 times for Ireland.
And Leamy was reluctant to go into details about whether or not the former Lions skipper would remain at Thomond Park beyond this season.
"It's an ongoing process," he said.
"I think Wig [Graham Rowntree] has probably spoken about it over the last while. It's an ongoing process and it's probably unfair for me to comment any further than that.
"That's still ongoing so we'll just have to wait and see how that pans out."
While O'Mahony is no longer captain, the Corkman showed he still has a lot of value to add to the side in last Saturday's impressive 29-18 win away to Toulon in the Investec Champions Cup.
The back row returned after missing six games with a shoulder injury, and played 63 minutes in the victory which leaves Munster all but certain of a place in the last 16.
"Pete is a great standard-driver," Munster's defence coach added.
"Obviously he has great experience and he has been around a long time at this stage.
"He just brings a great calmness, a great standard-setter and just his ability to play rugby as well is fantastic.
"It was great to have him back for last Saturday, he brought everyone with him, great leadership, he's someone that I think makes others feel better about themselves and certainly in the south of France, you need everyone feeling good about themselves. Pete was a great addition last Saturday."
The province appear to be coming through the far side of their injury crisis, with O'Mahony, Niall Scannell and Joey Carbery all having returned from layoffs in that win over Toulouse.
Oli Jager could be the latest to return for this Saturday's visit of the Northampton Saints (live on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player). The tighthead prop has missed the last two games with concussion after a concerning incident in the New Year's Day defeat to Connacht, but is making food progress through the return to polay protocols.
"Oli trained today and he seemed to come through pretty well. We'll see how that goes in the next 24 hours but fingers crossed, he's looking good. We're hopeful.
"It's a funny old game, isn't it? In Connacht we lose two players in the first half to bad injuries. Sometimes that happens but it’s brilliant to get on a plane and guys were in good spirts.
"We’re after winning and you look at the medical report and it’s almost green. There’s a couple of ambers and that’s never the worst thing. Yeah, it was good to see that," Leamy said.
In addition to Jager, back row Jack O'Donoghue (above) was also carted off in the opening half it that defeat to Connacht with a knee injury.
After initial fears the 30-year-old could be sidelined for up to nine months, Munster have since confirmed that the issue will not require surgery.
And although O'Donoghue is still looking at three to four months on the sidelines, Leamy says there is an element of relief to an otherwise bad situation.
"Look, it is bad news. There's a silver lining there in that I wasn't speaking to him today but we expected the worst after the incident. It was unfortunate in terms of the injury he sustained but three or four months isn't the end of the world, fortunately. You could be looking at six to nine from that point of view.
"He's a guy we'll miss, a great squad player. The Six Nations is coming up and he would have been vital to us over that period with his leadership and his experience. Unfortunately, that's not to be but fingers crossed he'll be back before the end of the season."
Watch Munster v Northampton in the Champions Cup on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 4.45pm this Saturday, follow our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app or listen live on RTÉ Radio 1.
