Ireland have been hit by the news they will be missing CJ Stander for four weeks after he picked up a facial injury against England.
The forward suffered suspected fractures of his eye socket and cheekbone during the defeat at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday and will now be forced to miss the matches against Scotland and Italy.
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Leinster’s Sean O’Brien is in contention for a starting role at the weekend after recovering from a broken arm and team-mate Peter O’Mahony is backing Stander to fill the void.
“I’m not going to sit here and pick the team, but Sean O’Brien, the name along speaks for itself,” said O’Mahony. “He’s been unlucky with injury here and there, but there isn’t anybody more professional and a big-game player than Sean O’Brien.”
Elsewhere, Keith Earls, Devin Toner and Garry Ringrose will be monitored before Saturday’s trip to Murrayfield, while wing Andrew Conway has been released from camp this week with a tight calf.
