Rugby: Munster have declined to speculate on the recovery period needed by captain Paul O'Connell after the lock left the field injured in the game against Leinster at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Table-toppers Munster won the Magners League game 24-23 after a stirring second half performance but injury to their talismanic leader was a hefty price to pay.

The Ireland international had an X-ray that evening, which revealed he hadn’t suffered a break, but further tests today have identified “ligament damage to his ankle” as the problem.

“The full extent of that damage is not yet known and the Munster captain will need to be re-assessed in 10 days time before it can be determined how long he'll be sidelined for,” a statement read this afternoon.

“O'Connell had an X-Ray in Limerick Regional Hospital on Saturday evening that established he hadn't suffered a fracture and this morning he was in the Sports Injury Clinic for further tests.

“Munster management were not prepared at this stage to speculate on the length of his rehab.”

Leinster have no new injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Leicester at the Aviva Stadium.

Defeat to Munster may have been a bitter pill to swallow, coming as it did with the last kick of the game from Ronan O’Gara, but Joe Schmidt’s side appears to be fighting fit ahead of its biggest game of the season.

Even Shane Jennings is, at this stage, still in contention for a starting place against the Guinness Premiership side, as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee injury.

The tie will be the 11th meeting between the teams, with the head-to-head delicately poised on five wins each.

The team is expected to be named on Friday lunchtime.