Connacht's Brett Wilkinson is a major doubt for Ireland's summer tour to New Zealand after sustaining a calf injury in the RaboDirect PRO12 win over Ulster.
The prop trained with Ireland throughout the recent RBS Six Nations campaign but he is still waiting to make his debut for Declan Kidney's side and had been considered a certainty for the summer tour.
He will miss the remainder of the RaboDirect PRO12 season and he faces a race against time to make this year's tour but coach Eric Elwood has vowed to do all he can to help the South African-born loosehead.
"He has a tear in his calf and that is going to take three to four week. We are hopeful he can be back for the New Zealand tour," Elwood confirmed.
"We have him down in the cryochamber in Ennis and he is working hard to get the injury sorted. We're doing everything possible to ensure he is given a fair chance of getting back in time for the squad announcement.
"We want to give him that option, but he won't make the last two games for us. They are a bit soon for him, but hopefully he can make it."
Wilkinson missed the chance to represent Ireland in last year’s World Cup after he was struck down by a hamstring injury in August.