Johnny Sexton will be fully fit ahead of Ireland's clash with Italy on Sunday week and Andy Farrell is keeping his cards close to his chest as regards who will start at no 10.
Although Ireland lost to France last Saturday, Joey Carbery performed well in the pivotal position in Paris in what was his first Six Nations start.
Carbery got the nod after Sexton suffered a hamstring injury in training four days before the game, but Farrell has now confirmed that his veteran captain will be back in harness for next week.
“All good," said Farrell, after watching his squad of 24 players participating in a two-day camp take on the Ireland under-20s in Abbotstown.
"Johnny is going through his protocols, he joined in training yesterday. He is going through the end stages of rehab and we expect him to be fully fit next week.”
There have been plenty of calls for Carbery to hold onto the jersey next week to increase his experience and confidence in the role, given Ireland's need for more up to speed depth in the out-half position.
“Well, we'll see," said Farrell. "What would you expect me to say, who's going to start and who's not? We will leave that to see how things unfold.
“But the experience was great for Joey. The feedback from that experience has been great for him.
"Today, trained against the 20s and he put a few of those bits that we talked about onto the field today. It stands him in good stead, doesn't it, to push on with his career.”
Farrell said that the coaches and players took part in an extensive review of the six-point loss last weekend.
When asked if the experience could be invaluable for what's to come over the next 18 months, culminating in the World Cup, the Ireland supremo said: “It has to be, otherwise it stands for nothing.
"We've had a good hit out against the under-20s and some of those learnings have been put into practice.”
While James Lowe has been named on Leinster's bench for their clash with Ospreys tomorrow at the RDS - and could come back into the picture quickly for Ireland selection - Rónan Kelleher will miss the remainder of the Six Nations with a shoulder injury.
Farrell commented: “It's disappointing for Rónan and for us. He has kicked off his international career with a bang.
"The more experience he keeps getting at this level, the better he's going to become.
“How Rónan deals with that injury as a young professional is going to help him down the track as well."
“Obviously him being out of the Six Nations will give other lads an opportunity to step forward.”
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