Alan Quinlan will have a better idea about the full extent of the knee injury he suffered on Friday night against Sale Sharks tomorrow when he visits a specialist tomorrow. The wing-forward is expected to be ruled out of action however for the immediate future at least.

Paul O'Connell will have the plaster removed from his hand today and Munster mamangement await medical advice as to when he may be available for action. It is a month since O'Connell played any rugby having sustained the injury against Llanelli Scarlets in the Celtic League on September 23rd.

Better news from a Munster viewpoint is that Anthony Horgan and Trevor Halstead have both resumed training and are likely to be in consideration for selection against Castres.

Horgan limped out of the Celtic League game against Glasgow on September 17th with a calf injury while a back muscle injury forced Halstead to withdraw from the side that played Leinster in Musgrave Park at the start of this month.