Ireland full-back Hugo Keenan remains a doubt for next week's Guinness Six Nations meeting with Wales in Dublin, but the Irish coaching staff insist he hasn't been ruled out of contention just yet.
Keenan picked up a knee injury in Sunday's 36-0 win against Italy at the Aviva Stadium, and now appears to be a major doubt for the visit of Warren Gatland's Welsh team.
While several players have been released back to the provinces for the BKT United Rugby Championship this weekend, a smaller squad gathered in Dublin today for a two-day camp, having been given some time off following the defeat of Italy.
The Leinster full-back sat out this afternoon's session at the IRFU high performance centre in Dublin, but forwards coach Paul O'Connell insists they will give him every chance of proving his fitness.
"He didn't train today, but he hasn't been ruled out for the Welsh game yet," O'Connell said.
"He's progressing with his rehabilitation, he was there at training today and took part in the organisational bits, but I have no full update.
"He's still available for selection for Wales, but I'm not sure what will happen in the next few days.
"I'm not sure yet where he's at. As I said he was around training today, so we'd be hopeful."
The 27-year-old [above] has become one of Ireland's most important players in the last three years, starting 33 of their last 36 games at full-back.
And with the obvious replacements Jimmy O'Brien and Mack Hansen both injured, O'Connell admits there will be big shoes to fill if he's ruled out next week.
"He plays a big role, he's obviously been injury free for a long time. He's an excellent player and in full-back, covering the back-field defensively, he has a lot of work to do in attack as well, recreating our attack by moving side to side. There's a lot of IP there that we might miss out on if he wasn't playing.
"He also plays a big leadership role for us, he's a very smart guy. He's a problem-solver within the group and highly regarded within the group. Whether he's there or not, he'll continue to play that role.
"It's good for us in some ways because it makes us play someone else there if he doesn't make it," he added.
In better news, O'Connell is confident that Garry Ringrose is on track to return from a shoulder injury for the Round 3 meeting with Wales.
The Leinster centre missed the opening games against France and Italy due to a shoulder injury.
"He [Ringrose] trained today. We didn't do a massive session today but he trained today and was in good shape," O'Connell said.
The forwards coach also insisted that captain Peter O'Mahony, centre Bundee Aki and tighthead Tadhg Furlong are all "good to go", after they completed this afternoon's session.
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