Munster are set to be handed a massive boost ahead of their crucial back-to-back clashes against Saracens with scrum half Conor Murray confident of being fit for Saturday's Round 3 showdown at Thomond Park.
Unbeaten Saracens top Pool 1 with nine points, three clear of former double Heineken Cup champions Munster, with a home win vital for the Irish club's hopes of qualifying for the prestigious knock-out stages.
Murray was absent when Munster beat Glasgow Warriors in the PRO12 last weekend after a knee injury sustained last season flared up again.
The international scrum half suffered a small tear in the RBS 6 Nations game against France last season and a heavy playing work load aggravated the injury.
"It's only a small thing," he said. "The week off did it the world of good. I feel relaxed and I came through my first pitch session and it feels fine."
But Munster may well have to face Steve Borthwick's Saracens without hugely influential lock Paul O'Connell, who was restricted to indoor training while Murray was taking part in the pitch action.
And CJ Stander will not be added to Munster's Heineken Cup squad as the South African has suffered a broken bone in his right hand that will rule him out until early in 2013.