Stuart Lancaster remains optimistic that Finlay Bealham will be available for Ireland's opening Guinness Six Nations clash with France in Paris, although the tighthead prop will miss the province's big Interpro with Leinster on Saturday.
The 34-year-old suffered a knee injury in his side’s reversal to Leinster at the start of the month, which has kept him out for the last couple of weeks.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is due to name his Six Nations squad on Wednesday, with just over two weeks to go until the first game of the championship away to France on Thursday, 5 February.
With Tadhg Furlong also currently dealing with a calf injury, 54-cap Bealham could be crucial in the first block of the tournament, with Ireland away to both France and England in their opening three games.
And while Lancaster admits the prop doesn't have a lot of time to work with, he’s making steady progress on his rehab.
"I don't think it's a million miles away," he said, when asked if Bealham will be fit to take on France.
"I think he'll be there or thereabouts.
"But as to say, is he going to be on the training field that week? And will he be available? It [the game] is not far away, but equally, you know, he's not far away either.
"He's not trained with us fully, but speaking to him yesterday and today, he feels he's making good progress very quickly."
The rumour mill has been swirling around the province in the last week, with flanker Will Connors believed to be joining his Leinster team-mate Ciarán Frawley in swapping Dublin for Galway next season.
In terms of outgoings, second row Joe Joyce will be leaving at the end of the season, with the 31-year-old agreeing a move to Premiership side Gloucester.
Tighthead prop Jack Aungier and scrum-half Matthew Devine have also been linked with moves away, with Munster and Ulster both believed to be negotiating with the pair.
However Lancaster wouldn't be drawn on their futures.
"No, no, no. It’s that time of year though, I have to say," he added, of the transfer rumours.
"Obviously we've announced Ciarán Frawley and it is that time of year, so there is a lot of discussions taking place.
"We've got a squad of 41 and there's going to be some changes in our squad next year as well. So we're trying to navigate that as best we can.
"Obviously, nothing to add to that, but ultimately I'm sure every provincial squad is going through the same process of negotiation, renewal, retention, recruitment."
Having secured their place in the Round of 16 in the Challenge Cup with a 75-14 win against Montauban on Saturday, the province turn their attention back to the BKT United Rugby Championship where they are looking to stay in the hunt for a play-off spot.
Three URC defeats in a row in the last month have left them in 12th place, ahead of this weekend’s visit of Leinster.
It’s set to be a historic occasion at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday, with the province opening the doors on their new Clan Stand, which will complete their €40m redevelopment of the ground, which started in 2022.
The new 6,555 stand will bring the capacity at the Sportsground up to 12,000.
"This has been in the calendar since the very start of the season, something we've referenced and talked about. So I don't think you should shy away from a game of this size, you know what it means to the province.
"I had experiences, different experiences with England. Opening game of a Rugby World Cup, you have to sort of be in it to embrace it. So it’s a normal week for us. Obviously for you guys, it might feel different for us.
"It feels like a normal training week, albeit the opposition, we realise are pretty good and also realise the significance of the game.
"But I don't think anyone knows really what it's going to feel like until 5.30 on Saturday when it's full, but I think it'll be pretty special," the Connacht head coach (below) added.
While Leinster are likely to be without the majority of their frontline Ireland internationals, Connacht will require a big turnaround if they’re to end their run of 11 Interpro defeats in a row, losing 52-17 to Leo Cullen’s side earlier this month.
And Lancaster believes the size of the challenge is sure to sharpen the minds, particularly ahead of such a big occasion in the west of Ireland.
"So the big lesson from the Aviva was the speed at which we needed to react," the former Leinster coach said of their meeting earlier this month
"There were an early two tries we conceded, which Leinster executed very well, but we were slow to come out of the blocks. We came back well, but obviously the second half got away from us.
"The keys to preventing that is ball control, winning your setpiece ball, not giving any cheap turnovers. And again, in that second half in particular, that's what we did."
