It was announced yesterday that O'Driscoll's hamstring injury had failed to respond to treatment and it was stated also that a decision on Gordon D'Arcy fitness would be made this morning in Dublin.

It is therefore safe to assume that if the Irish management didn't see it worthwhile to bring D'Arcy with them when the squad departed yesterday, that there is no chance of him playing on Saturday. Besides, in the aftermath of the Italian game, coach Eddie O'Sullivan conceded that D'Arcy was "very doubtful" (for Scotland) while O'Driscoll was also "a worry." With what at the time appeared the least serious of the pair now ruled out, the more serious will almost certainly follow.

That being the cast then, O'Sullivan will be forced to reshuffle his backline but he has players experienced and well versed in the various moves to fit in to the vacant centre positions.

Kevin Maggs will probably get the familiar number 12 shirt, Shane Horgan may then be asked to move from the wing to outside centre with Girvan Dempsey slotted in on the right wing.