Garry Ringrose and Dan Leavy are back in contention for Leinster's trip to Italy on Saturday to face Ian McKinley's Treviso (live on TG4).
Both players, after missing the November international window, have “returned to rugby training and will be reviewed as the week progresses”.
Ringrose has not played since undergoing double shoulder surgery after Ireland’s summer tour of Japan while Leavy suffered a hamstring injury soon after returning from ankle surgery.
Robbie Henshaw and James Ryan replace them on the injury list. Ryan was forced off with a shoulder issue 48 minutes into the victory over Argentina on Saturday, the 21-year-old's first cap in Dublin, while Henshaw suffered a hamstring injury last Tuesday.
“We hope to have Robbie next week, that’s plan,” said Leinster assistant coach John Fogarty in reference to the back-to-back Champions Cup matches against English champions the Exeter Chiefs. “James Ryan’s return is something similar, pretty sure it’s his shoulder.”
Ryan has struggled with injury – hamstring, foot, concussion and shoulder – since transitioning into senior rugby last season.
Small adjustments
"You have to look at the way JR takes contact," Fogarty explained. "When he was 18 or 19 it was always on his terms and he always went through it. He is probably making adjustments or he will have to make adjustments going into the future with how he carries the ball. A little bit like how Joey Carbery carries the ball. These younger lads, they are going direct at contact." There is no date for Carbery's return from a fractured left wrist sustained when he ran into a Fijian prop on November 18th.
“I think you see the older players make small adjustments in how they carry the ball that help them stay injury free,” Fogarty continued.
“I think James is one of those players who is in the process of adjusting from what he was as an underage player to senior international. He has had to do it quite quickly and has adjusted unbelievably well and he fitted in perfectly, he’s doing a great job, and is certainly someone for the future.
“From our point of view as coaches we try to manage his contacts and see if we can make little changes to help him stay on the field for longer.”
Ryan’s injury adds to Leinster’s secondrow problems. Ross Moloney damaged his knee in victory over the Dragons last Friday, Mick Kearney is recovering from an AC joint injury while Ian Nagle has been declared fit for selection despite failing to finish against the Dragons after replacing Molony.
Josh van der Flier is due to return from ankle surgery in time for the Exeter games.
