Leinster head coach Leo Cullen has revealed that Andrew Porter is very close to a return as they prepare for a URC meeting with table toppers Glasgow Warriors this weekend.
Porter has been absent for the province for a number of months after picking up a calf injury in training in January.
It caused him to miss the entire Six Nations campaign for Ireland.
But coach Leo Cullen hinted that prop could be involved in the game in Scotland.
"We'll see if he goes through training this week and then we'll just make a call," Cullen said at a press conference this afternoon.
"He's very, very close, Andrew. He's got himself in great shape now. He's doing more and more every day, which is great.
"He came back from November (with Ireland) injured and picked up that unfortunate injury in the lead-up to our La Rochelle game.
"He's a huge player for us, Andrew, and has been for a decent chunk of time now. That's on top of Paddy McCarthy getting injured in that La Rochelle game, as it played out, and Jack Boyle then got injured in the Connacht game. They're all significant injuries."
In other news, James Ryan remains a doubt for the game having missed Ireland's Triple Crown triumph over the Scots in Dublin on Saturday, coincidentally also with a calf strain.
Hugo Keenan, meanwhile, could be back on the pitch this week as he continues his recovery from a fractured thumb which he suffered in an Ireland training camp in Portugal in January.
"Hugo's training fully at the moment, as well," Cullen added.
"We're hoping that he will feature this week, or if not this week, very, very soon."
James Lowe is not in contention for a return after suffering a groin injury in Ireland's Six Nations victory over England in London.
Leinster will make the journey to face Glasgow with four points separating the sides.
The province's most recent action was at the end of February, when Cardiff inflicted a first defeat on them in 11 games in an 8-7 defeat in the Arms Park.
