Hugo Keenan is confident he can shake off his knee injury in time for Ireland's Guinness Six Nations meeting with England at Twickenham on 9 March, with the full-back continuing his rehab at the IRFU's training centre in Dublin this week.
The 27-year-old missed Saturday's 31-7 win against Wales at the Aviva Stadium, having suffered the knock during the second half of the Round 2 win over Italy.
Keenan is yet to return to full training, with the squad currently having some time off before meeting up for a mini camp on Thursday and Friday.
But the Leinster man is still reporting to a camp every day this week, as he looks to be cleared for the Round 4 trip to Twickenham.
"Rehab's progressing well, so that's the plan, hoping to get back for England," he told RTÉ Sport, speaking at an event for Energia.
"I've been worked hard, I've been in rehabbing the last day or two as well while the rest of the squad's been off, so it's always the annoying side of it, you don't really get your days off. I'm happy with how it's coming along, and progressing well.
The injury happened 52 minutes into Ireland's 36-0 win over Italy at the Aviva Stadium, with the Leinster man hit with what he describes as a "Will Connors-esque chop-tackle" by Italian prop Giosue Zilocchi.
While the two down-weeks in the Six Nations have limited the amount of game time he's missed, the meeting with England on 9 March will have seen him out for four weeks.
And while his time in camp has been limited to the rehab room and the gym in recent weeks, his value to the team is now such that he was kept in the squad by Andy Farrell to contribute behind the scenes.
"I saw him [Zilocchi] coming out of the corner of my eye, so I managed to get my legs off the ground, which meant a lot of the impact was taken, so it was nothing too serious.
"I tried to shake it off, but it probably wasn't one I could have. We were in a comfortable position at that stage as well.
"You always are a small bit nervous, but we've got great doctors and great physios. They cleared my knee for a large part going into it [the scan], so I was pretty confident it was something pretty minor. I was reassured soon enough so it was all good."
"I was delighted to get to stay in camp. There was a small chance I could have been back for it [the Wales game], so I was trying to get ready as if I would.
"That's the best way to do it when you're injured, to presume you're playing, to prep as if you are playing, to get over your details, so that when you come back in when you are available for selection and back fit and healthy, that you're not far behind.
"It was good to be involved in and around the team as well, being in for meetings, and then being in on gameday. It's also one that you just want to be out there yourself, and you want to be playing and back in the green jersey, so it's a little bit frustrating," he added.
Keenan hasn't had to be a spectator for many Ireland games since making his debut in October 2020, missing just four games in that period, with two of them being World Cup warm-ups.
His Leinster teammate Ciarán Frawley stepped in seamlessly to fill the gap at full-back scoring a try in his first Irish start.
"I've been lucky enough that I haven't been in that situation too many times, I've had a good run of injuries.
"It's something I don't enjoy too much, I get nervous, I get worried. You can't control anything when you're on the side of the pitch, while when you're in amongst it you're distracted more, you're just focused on the challenge in front of you.
"I thought he [Frawley] went very well, didn't he? It was great to see it. I don't think anyone had any doubts about him, he 's an incredible footballer, we've all seen it for Leinster and the small bits that he's got a chance with a green jersey as well.
"He's got a bit more time at 15, and I think there were probably a few question marks around who would play there with Jimmy [O'Brien] and Mack [Hansen] out, but we were all very confident in him. It was great for him to get settled in early and get a try as well. I was delighted for him."
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