Connacht second row Josh Murphy has linked up with the Ireland squad this week as a precaution, with Munster's Tom Ahern dealing with an injury scare ahead of the summer Tests against Georgia and Portugal next month.
Ahern is dealing with "hamstring tightness", according to an update from the IRFU, although he remains in contention to make his Ireland debut in the coming weeks.
The Waterford forward, who can play second and back row, has been on the verge of an Ireland debut for the last two seasons where he has impressed for Munster, scoring 11 tries in 41 games in those campaigns.
Murphy linked up with the squad this week as they continue their preparations for the Tests on 5 and 12 July.
The 30-year-old will train with Ireland in the coming days, although he is not expected to travel to Tbilisi with the group next Wednesday, barring a setback with Ahern's hamstring.
Murphy joined Connacht in the summer of 2022 after playing 61 times for Leinster in the five previous years.
He played 18 games in his debut season out west, helping Connacht to the semi-finals of the URC, but spent 2024/25 out of professional rugby to further his medical studies while togging out with Clontarf in the Energia All Ireland League.
Upon returning to Connacht last summer, he was a near ever present in their pack, making 21 appearances and scoring four tries in all competitions.
Murphy is one of six training panellists supplementing Paul O'Connell's squad of 32, ahead of facing Georgia on 5 July, and Portugal in Lisbon on 12 July.
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