SEAN O'BRIEN sat out training on Wednesday but should be available for Ireland's Six Nations opener with Wales on Sunday.
The Leinster powerhouse was the only member of the squad who didn't take part in the session at their traditional base at Carton House in Kildare: "He stood out training today, more precautionary than anything," confirmed Ireland assistant coach Simon Easterby.
"We have got Friday and Saturday because we have a longer week this week with a Sunday game. We are pretty comfortable with the amount of work he has done in the early part of this week and last week to feel that we could manage his tightness."
Young centre Garry Ringrose, for whom there was a clamour for inclusion on Joe Schmidt's original squad, was brought in as a temporary replacement for team-mate Luke Fitzgerald, who was ruled out of the Six Nations on Tuesday with a knee injury. However, a permanent replacement for Fitzgerald has not yet been named.
Joe Schmidt hinted last week that Ringrose was not yet ready for the step-up to international rugby. The injury to Fitzgerald creates further hope for Ulster's Stuart McCloskey though, and Easterby says he has been impressed by his physicality.
"Stuart has played against some physical teams this year. Toulouse weren't a small team if anyone was up in Ravenhill. I was and they did pretty well," he added.
"He has gone well in the physicality stakes against Saracens. He is a big man and so are Wales. They have threats across their back-line and they are the same size as Stuart. He is well able to step up. That wouldn't be an issue for him if he was to be selected."
