Munster Rugby's injury problems look to be easing - but they will have to go into Sunday's vital home game in Pool 1 against Edinburgh Rugby without their record points scorer Ronan O'Gara.
The Heineken Cup's record points and appearance holder damaged his hamstring in the 22-17 defeat by Racing Metro in Paris last weekend and is rated a doubtful starter for Ireland in the November international window.
He should be able to return for the back-to-back assignments against Saracens in Rounds 3 and 4 in December, but he will be sorely missed by both club and country over the next few weeks.
Last weekend's game at Stade de France was the 37-year-old's 105th game in the Heineken Cup and his five points took him through the 1,300 barrier in the competition as he ensured he has now scored in his last 88 tournament matches. It was Munster's 123rd overall appearance.
Since his European debut in the 48-40 defeat against Harlequins on 7 September, 1997, O'Gara has only missed 13 games in 16 seasons and currently averages 12.4 points per game for the two-times champions.
O'Gara left the field after half-an-hour in the French capital and is likely to be replaced by Ian Keatley. The Munster medical team will assess Donncha O'Callaghan (hamstring) and Niall Ronan (groin) throughout the week, but coach Rob Penney is hopeful both players will be in contention for the clash against Michael Bradley's side.
Paul O'Connell showed no ill effects from the 60 minutes he was on the pitch in Paris in his first competitive outing in five months, while Felix Jones and Ian Nagle came through the province's British & Irish Cup victory over Plymouth Albion unscathed.
Luke O'Dea and Johne Murphy are also fit for selection, while James Coughlan (groin), Ivan Dineen (groin), Keith Earls (groin), Sean Scanlon (back) remain on the treatment table.
