Munster trio Alan Quinlan, Anthony Horgan and Shaun Payne are among those who have been called into the national squad ahead of the game against Scotland on Saturday. And two of the three must entertain realistic hopes of being included when the 22 man squad is named today.

The Ireland squad arrived back in Ireland later than expected yesterday when the pair of Gordon D'Arcy and Bian O'Driscoll went immediately to the Blackrock Clinic to have the extent of their injuries determined. News on that front will be forthcoming later today.

Meanwhile, Scotland have named a 34 strong squad for the game against Ireland.

Scotland Squad - Backs: M Blair (Edinburgh Rugby), A Craig (Glasgow Rugby), C Cusiter (The Borders), S Danielli (The Borders), M Di Rollo (Edinburgh Rugby), P Godman (Edinburgh Rugby), C Howarth (Glasgow Rugby), B Hinshelwood (Worcester Warriors), A Henderson (Glasgow Rugby), R Lamont (Glasgow Rugby), S Lamont (Glasgow Rugby), D Parks (Glasgow Rugby), C Paterson (Edinburgh Rugby), G Ross (Leeds Tykes), H Southwell (Edinburgh Rugby), S Webster (Edinburgh Rugby).

Forwards: R Beattie (Northampton Saints), G Bulloch (Glasgow Rugby, capt), D Callam (Edinburgh Rugby), B Douglas (The Borders), J Dunbar (Leeds Tykes), I Fullerton (Saracens), S Grimes (Newcastle Falcons), N Hines (Edinburgh Rugby), A Hogg (Edinburgh Rugby), G Kerr (Leeds Tykes), N Lloyd (Saracens), S Lawson (Glasgow Rugby), E Murray (Glasgow Rugby), S Murray (Edinburgh Rugby), J Petrie (Glasgow Rugby), R Russell (London Irish), T Smith (Northampton Saints), J White (Sale Sharks).