Conor Murray is a major doubt for selection this weekend, as Munster prepare for their Champions Cup semi-final against Saracens.
The Munster scrum half suffered a shoulder injury, while on duty for Ireland during the Six Nations championship, that hasn't sufficiently cleared up yet.
Murray picked up the knock during the game against Wales, while making a tackle on George North. He received treatment at the time and played on. He suffered another blow while tackling North shortly after, and was later replaced.
He was initially passed fit for selection ahead of the final Six Nations game against England, but was later ruled out of the match day squad.
Munster Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus says the club will give Murray every chance to prove his fitness before the game on Saturday, but advised that he is unlikely to be fit in time.
Speaking to Live95, Erasmus said:
"Conor Murray is definitely a doubt. We'll give him as long as we can but I'm fairly confident that he won't make a surprise return this weekend. It's becoming a bit of a worry now and I guess he has to start thinking of the bigger things and what will still happen this season, including the Lions test matches (in New Zealand) if he makes that squad.
Image: Rassie Erasmus. ©INPHO/Donall Farmer
"It's just a stinger. He injured a nerve a little bit and it's just taking longer to heal. As I said, it's a waiting game. As frustrating as it is for everybody, for him it must be really annoying because he is the kind of guy who wants to play in every single game, never mind a semi-final. He's fairly young and he's got a long future ahead of him.
"Apart from him, the squad is not looking too bad."
Meanwhile, there was some positive injury news on Rory Scannel and CJ Stander. Scannell picked up an ankle sprain against Ulster in their Guinness PRO12 clash at the weekend and was taken off. But it has since been confirmed that the issue is not as serious as first thought, and he will be reviewed as the week continues.
CJ Stander is expected to make a return to full training this week after suffering an ankle sprain in Munster's Champions Cup win over Toulouse earlier this month.
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