Leinster are hopeful Tadhg Furlong can return from an ankle injury in time for their St Stephen's Day Interpro with Munster at Thomond Park, however, the tighthead is yet to return to full training.
Furlong has missed the last two games, having picked up an ankle knock late in their 38-29 win against Ulster earlier this month in the BKT United Rugby Championship, but has stepped up his training load with a view to returning against Munster, or versus Connacht on New Year's Day, according to senior coach Stuart Lancaster.
"Potentially [available to face Munster], he took part in part of training today and it'll be a similar situation tomorrow," Lancaster told RTÉ Sport.
"We just want to make sure he’s 100% right. If not this week, then hopefully the Connacht game."
Johnny Sexton and Jordan Larmour both came through their returns from injury on Friday night against Gloucester unscathed, and while both will be fit for the game against Munster on Monday, Lancaster was coy on the potential make-up of the side next week.
The frontline Ireland internationals are expected to be rested for one of the two derby games, but Lancaster (below) says they have faith in the depth of their squad to maintain their 100% record so far this season.
"I think we've got great players, some who are returning from injury, but we’ve got players who have waited patiently for an opportunity as well.
"It’s a chance to give the lads opportunities, but equally the core of our squad will remain the same. We’re lucky we have strength in depth, we’ve lost a few lads to injury, but we’ve had a consistent run of performances now."
With the St Stephen's Day meeting with Munster not taking place until Monday, it throws off the schedule for both sides. Leinster trained today, and will have another session tomorrow, before a day off on Thursday.
The province will have another training session on Friday, before their captain's run on Christmas Eve, allowing the players take Christmas Day off before traveling to Limerick on Monday.
Lancaster will also make a short visit home to England on Friday evening before linking back up with the team on St Stephen's Day.
"I'm home Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and then there’s a 7.30am flight St Stephen’s morning. There’s talk of strikes, so hopefully I’ll be there. I’ve not missed one yet!," he laughs.
Barring a further meeting in the latter stages of the URC or Champions Cup, next week will be Lancaster's final visit to Thomond Park with Leinster, with the senior coach departing for Racing 92 this summer.
In six trips to Limerick, Leinster have won four and lost two against Munster since Lancaster joined the province in 2016.
And he says he's expecting a typically explosive derby match, against what he says is a fast improving Munster side.
"You can see their performances on the back of the South Africa A game, a very impressive win against Edinburgh and Northampton, and only just lost to Toulouse who just went and smashed Sale. They're a very good team and it’s a pretty unique occasion, a St Stephen’s Day game at Thomond Park.
"I think the results speak for themselves, the away wins [against Edinburgh and Northampton].
"They've always been a very hard team to score against and still have that competitiveness defensively, but also in attack you can see how hard they’re working off the ball, the lines they’re running, and they still have the set-piece prowess, both defensively in the lineout, and the scrum is strong.
"They’re very good close to your line when they’re picking and going, and converting pressure into points. They’re going well and credit to the coaches for doing it.
"They've all been rollercoaster rides [at Thomond Park], some good, some not so good, but it’s always a great experience. It’s a one-off, everything goes out the window in terms of the form book, and we’ll need to be at our best."
Listen to live commentary of Munster v Leinster (26 December, 7.35pm) and Connacht v Ulster (23 December, 7.35pm) on RTÉ Radio 1, or follow our live blogs on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
Watch live coverage of Connacht v Ulster on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
