Munster have not ruled out their Ireland contingent from this weekend's top of the table URC battle against Stormers at Thomond Park, while Edwin Edogbo is closing in on a return from a head injury.
Four of the southern province’s players featured in the defeat to South Africa at the weekend and returned to training in Limerick today.
Lock Tadhg Beirne played the full 80 minutes in addition to featuring in the games against New Zealand, Japan and Australia and would be unlikely to go again.
Backs Jack Crowley (playing 39 minutes), Tom Farrell (16 minutes) and Craig Casey (eight minutes) came off the bench in the 24-13 loss to the world champions.
Forward Thomas Ahern was part of the squad but didn't see any game time during the window.
"They’ve come off the back of a tough series, physically, and none more so than the game on Saturday so they will be back training today," said forwards coach Alex Codling.
"And the one thing about the boys, whenever they come back into the environment, they’ve come bouncing in.
"The boys are glad to have them back, as we coaches are.
"That will be a decision later in the week in terms of where they are physically and mentally after the autumn series.
"[They are not ruled out] at this stage but it’s very much on an individual-by-individual basis."
Second row Edogbo, who suffered a head injury in the win over Leinster on 18 October is also in the frame to return for Saturday's 5.30pm round-six clash.
Codling revealed Edogbo (below), who had been due to travel with the Ireland squad to Chicago as cover, suffered a set-back in training.
"It was just a smaller injury," said the Englishman without going into detail.
"He’s very close, he’s been training. Like everything, it’s just making sure it’s player-centralised and we’ll make sure he comes through the right processes and the decision regarding selection will be in the next 24 hours or so."
Meanwhile, tighthead prop Oli Jager, who last played against Edinburgh in round three, will see a specialist about his head injury.
"The first thing is getting signed off on the injury itself," said Codling of the one-cap Ireland international.
"He’s come back and done some non-contact training and the next phase is now to see a specialist to be signed off to come back and play fully.
"He’s in a good place. In terms of timeline, it will be between himself and seeing a specialist and then liaising with the club."
Codling also confirmed that Michael Ala’alatoa will join up with the squad next week after signing from Clermont last week on a seven-month contract
The 34-year-old former Leinster tighthead was on international duty as Manu Samoa secured qualification for the World Cup during the international window.
He will bolster the front row ranks for their upcoming European games against Bath and Gloucester, which takes place at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on 13 December with almost 32,000 tickets sold.
"With the situation we’ve had at times, John Ryan has done an incredible job, he’s been invaluable to us," said Codling.
"We’ve got great young prospects here at the club, none more so than Ronan Foxe but it’s just giving us that bit of experience.
"Obviously with the situation around Oli, it’s such an attritional game as you saw at the weekend, and we are going into some massive games in the Champions Cup and the URC.
"So Michael, with all his experience playing the top level, internationally and winning things with his previous clubs, I think he’s a great signing for us and he’ll add a lot of value to the group."
Winger Calvin Nash (shoulder) has returned to non-contact training and is increasing his training exposure, Andrew Smith (knee and hamstring) is making good progress with his rehab and increasing his training content.
Back row Brian Gleeson, who was also called up to the Ireland squad at the start of the window as cover is continuing to rehab his elbow injury.
The 2023 URC winners, who sit second in the table behind Saturday's opponents on points difference, have also welcomed back Thaakir Abrahams, Diarmuid Barron, Conor Bartley, Mike Haley, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen and Niall Scannell to training this week following injuries.
