Rugby:Stephen Ferris is the biggest injury concern for Ireland ahead of Saturday's opening Six Nations game against Italy at Croke Park. The influential forward sat out today's training session at the RDS and hasn't trained since he picked up an injury during Ulster's win over Bath in their final Heineken Cup pool game.
Brian O’Driscoll (quad strain) also sat out training while Donncha O’Callaghan (knee) took a limited part but Ireland management expect both to be fit in time to face the Azzurri.
Ferris’ situation is more precarious and he also missed out on training with his Irish team-mates last week after being advised to stay off his feet.
If Ferris misses out on the first game of Ireland’s Grand Slam defence then Kevin McLaughlin or Sean O’Brien are potential replacements.
On a more positive front it appears Rory Best and Jerry Flannery are fit and available for selection.
The Ireland ‘A’ squad to take on Scotland ‘A’ at Ravenhill on Friday night was named today with the hosts hopeful they can get back to winning ways after their 17-13 loss to England Saxons at the Recreation Ground in Bath over the weekend.
Ireland team manager Paul McNaughton named a 20-man squad with vacancies left in the backrow and at hooker, pending tomorrow’s lunchtime announcement of the Ireland senior team to play Italy.
The Ireland 'A' team will be finalised on Wednesday with kick-off on Friday at 7.30pm.
Ireland 'A' squad (v Scotland 'A')
Isaac Boss (Ballymena/Ulster)
Nigel Brady (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Tony Buckley (Shannon/Munster)
Ryan Caldwell (Dungannon/Ulster)
Darren Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Ian Dowling (Shannon/Munster)
Chris Henry (Ballymena/Ulster)
Marcus Horan (Shannon/Munster)
Ian Humphreys (Ballymena/Ulster)
Denis Hurley (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Shane Jennings (St. Mary's College/Leinster)
Ian Keatley (Galwegians/Connacht)
Keith Matthews (Buccaneers/Connacht)
Fergus McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Johne Murphy (Leicester Tigers)
Mick O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster)
Niall Ronan (Shannon/Munster)
Mike Ross (Clontarf/Leinster)
Peter Stringer (Shannon/Munster)
Devin Toner (Lansdowne/Leinster)