RG Snyman is tipped to make his long-awaited return for Munster in the new year.
Snyman, 27, has played in only four games for the Reds since his move in the summer of 2020.
In October, South Africa's director of rugby Rassie Erasmus said the big lock's knee issues remain a concern and Munster signed Scot Kiran McDonald on a three-month injury cover contract.
The province responded by saying that Snyman, following a review with his surgeon, would be out until the end of December
Speaking yesterday, Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast expressed optimism that the World Cup winner will be back for the province soon.
“Things are positive, that’s kind of the overall message that we’ve been getting," said Prendergast.
"We’re all excited that he will back into the new year because bringing a world class player like that can do a lot to your game.
"Overall, things are moving forward which is great and positive."
Snyman suffered an ACL injury on his Munster debut against Leinster in August 2020.
He returned over a year later, in September 2021, but in his third game back he re-ruptured his cruciate in his left knee.
The giant Springbok was due to return earlier this season, having signed a new deal in the summer, but he suffered a setback with his recovery.
Commenting on Snyman's situation at the end of September, Reds head coach Graham Rowntree said: "He’s had a very difficult year and we’re not pushing him.
"All I can say at this point, for the foreseeable, he’s not quite ready yet.”
John Hodnett is a doubt for the St Stephen's Day clash with Leinster. The flanker have a scan on a low grade thigh injury.
His availability will be determined later in the week, while emerging lock Edwin Edogbo has sustained an ankle injury that rules him out for a number of weeks.
Better news for the Reds is that Stephen Archer (ankle), Jack O’Sullivan (knee) and Simon Zebo (knee) all return to full training this week.
Meanwhile, Prendergast insists Munster's recent record against Leinster means nothing as the Reds target a "huge" victory at Thomond Park.
Munster have won just three of the last 19 meetings of the old rivals, going back to their back to back triumphs over the Blues in the 2013/14 season.
They have lost the last three of these much anticipated festive fixtures on home ground, too, and are facing a Leinster side that has not tasted defeat in the URC and Champions Cup this season.
Nevertheless Prendergast, who played in plenty of these derbies and is now Munster's attack coach, insists the coaching and playing staff in Limerick have a clean slate given the new approach taken this year under head coach Graham Rowntree and his backroom team.
It would be huge," he said. "We feel like we have moved forward. Since the Bulls game there have been aspects of our game, parts of our game that have moved on week by week.
"And if we were to finish off the year by beating Europe’s top team it would be a massive, massive win for us, confidence-wise and just moving forward."
So as far as Prendergast is concerned, there is no residual damage to the Munster set-up from their recent losses to their bitter rivals.
“I genuinely don’t think there is," he said. "Since Graham has come in as the head coach, we’ve come in as the staff with him.
"He has talked about a new fresh start and that’s with everything - the different opposition, the different competitions, we’ve just spoken about what we can do since we’ve come in.
"It’s no different this weekend, we’ve spoken about how good a side they are, the threats they will pose to us.
"But in terms of what’s gone on before, we haven’t (focused on it) because we start on a new page and just want to keep moving forward on that.
"I know it’s a bit of a cliche but we talk about the here and now, and we're focusing first on ourselves getting our performance right."
However Prendergast admits one recent meeting of the provinces in Dublin was examined to re-inforce how much Munster have evolved since then, though he acknowledges Leinster have also progressed in the interim.
The Limerick man acknowledges that the "big question" is whether the Reds have evolved enough to get one over Leo Cullen's relentless outfit.
He is quick to praise the maul threat that the Blues now possess, as well as the potent variation that allows them to hold onto possession or kick into dangerous positions.
"If we can get our detail right and be incredibly aggressive - because I think it’s something that maybe is overlooked when you look at Leinster and their shape and skills, and ability to move," said Prendergast.
"But they’re incredibly aggressive on their carries and they generate that quick ball and that becomes a hard thing to defend.
“So, if we get those aspects of our game right, I firmly believe we can win this game.
"It will be a huge challenge and we're still on that journey. In terms of where we can go there’s still steps forward to make.
"It’s still enough early days, we’ve probably been together for six months, and games-wise three and a half/four months.
"But every week we’re looking to add little layers to our game, and sometimes that hasn’t come off, or we haven’t shown it yet.
“So, it's a framework that’s evolving."
Prendergast added:"I think we've all (changed). As a playing staff, as a coaching staff and marrying that together, it was always going to take a bit of time.
"We're still on that journey. Week on week, month on month, we have improved in different domains, parts of our game."
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