Leinster will decide later in the week whether Seán O'Brien will face Connacht at the Sportsground on Friday.

The backrow took a knock to his ankle ahead of the Scarlets game last week and sat out the 42-12 win, with Dominic Ryan, Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip avaliable.

“Seán O’Brien took a bang on his ankle late last week so with a number of other players returning we felt it wasn’t worth risking for the Scarlets game,” said Matt O’Connor today. “We have been managing it ever since and will make a further call ahead of the team announcement on Thursday at midday.”

Jennings was replaced against the Scarlets after injuring his shoulder but “it’s nothing serious,” according to O’Connor.

Zane Kirchner, however, left the field during Saturday's win at the RDS with a hamstring injury and looks likely to be out for the rest of the month at least.

The South African is “going to be out for two to three weeks,” said O’Connor. “It’s just a tweak so we are lucky in that regard.”

The long-awaited comeback of hooker Richardt Strauss looks to be edging ever closer. The South African injured his hamstring in a league win over Edinburgh in May.

“Richardt is progressing really well and it was good to see him back involved with the rest of the group this week. He is still some weeks away but he has really stepped up his rehab this week.”