IRELAND will be without Tadhg Furlong and Joe McCarthy for the Six Nations clash against Scotland.
But interim head coach Simon Easterby could be able to call upon Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham after they took part in full training.
Ireland travel to Edinburgh to face Scotland on Sunday after kicking off their Six Nations campaign with a 27-22 win over England.
Tadhg Furlong and Joe McCarthy – who missed last weekend’s tie due to injury – have also been ruled out of the game at Murrayfield.
However, Mack Hansen and Finlay Bealham could be available despite both suffering leg injuries against England.
Scrum coach John Fogarty commented: “They trained just now and it looks positive for both.
He added: “[Hansen] had quite a deep cut on his knee but movement-wise, he was good when he come back on.
“Mack doesn’t think too much. It was a nasty enough cut but he doesn’t spend time dwelling on it.
“He’s moving really, really well. He’s out there sprinting and chasing kicks. He’s good.”
Bealham started the game in place of Furlong, with Fogarty saying: “He’s had issues with his ankle before and he got caught, it was nasty enough.
“But the medical staff have managed to put him in a good place and he looks good. He’s moving well on the field and he’s good.”
Ireland have not lost to Scotland since the hosts beat them 27-22 at Murrayfield in 2017, and have won the last ten on the bounce.
However, scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park warned that the Tartan Army are good enough to cause an upset on home turf.
He said: “That’s the case for a lot of teams now. We’ve kind of been near enough to the top of the rankings for a while.
“I know myself that if I’m coming up against a quality side you want to put your best performance out there.
“Next week will be no different.”
Scotland view themselves as potential champions and the Leinster star agreed: “One hundred per cent. They’re a classy side.
“They’re playing good footie and they’re stacked full of really good individuals, so it will be a tough challenge.
“I know it’s been a long time since they won but there’s no reason they can’t.
“But what a place to go and what an opportunity for us to go there and have a crack at them.”
