Losing loosehead props to injury has become a worrying trend for Leinster as their season approaches its denouement.
Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle were already on the list of long-term absentees before recent injuries to Andrew Porter and Alex Usanov plunged the province into a personnel panic at the position.
Jerry Cahir, who was recruited from AIL side Lansdowne earlier this season, is now the only fully fit permanent loosehead member of the squad.
However, out of adversity comes opportunity, and the main beneficiary could be the returning Ed Byrne - a player all too familiar with time in injury rehab.
The 32-year-old left the province to move to Cardiff at the start of last season, but now finds himself back in familiar environs on a loan deal after recently overcoming his own injury travails.
Discussing the crisis on the RTÉ Rugby Podcast, Bernard Jackman said: "Ed has been injured for a year and a half now.
"He only came back last week after a year and a half out with a calf injury and now suddenly he's coming back to Leinster.
"It would be amazing for Ed if he ended up coming back to Leinster and being part of some success here.
"Obviously, he went to Cardiff to try and get more game time, and it didn't work out with the injuries.
"They'll be very happy to have someone like him, who they trust, knows the system, knows everybody."
Fellow podcast guest Johne Murphy said: "It's great for him. It's obviously been a frustrating 18 months or so for him.
"Hopefully, being fully fit will give him a good opportunity to continue.
"But someone like Jerry Cahir is very, very important, with his journey through the AIL.
"He'll certainly have the mental capacity to be able to deal with what is going to be thrown his way."
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