LUKE FITZGERALD AND Josh van der Flier are injury doubts for Leinster’s crucial Guinness Pro12 clash with Treviso this weekend as the province look to secure a home semi-final.
Fitzgerald sustained a medial strain to his knee during the second half of Leinster’s disappointing 30-6 defeat to Ulster last Saturday.
The Ireland international came on for Garry Ringrose in the 50th minute in Belfast but Fitzgerald will sit out this afternoon’s open training session at the RDS.
The winger missed Ireland’s Six Nations campaign with a similar problem and while the extent of the damage is not yet known, this latest setback comes just when Fitzgerald was returning to full fitness.
Van der Flier is also under the careful eye of the medical staff after suffering an ankle injury in the interpro clash. The flanker was replaced at half-time by Jordi Murphy and is now wearing a protective boot.
“Josh is in a boot at the moment, he has a slight ankle issue but it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s out of Saturday,” forwards coach John Fogarty said this morning. “They’re worried about him putting weight on it too.
“Luke has a medial strain so we’re going to see how he gets through the week.
“They’re the two injuries which came from the game. It was a bruising encounter, a tough game.
“We’ve a session today which will be pretty light at the RDS and tomorrow [Tuesday] and Thursday are the important days so we hope to see them on the pitch.”
Leinster head into the final game of the regular season coming off the back of a unwelcome performance and result but also in the knowledge that five points will still secure them a home semi-final.
Leo Cullen’s side currently sit third in the standings but with Connacht and Glasgow going head-to-head in Galway, Leinster’s fate is still very much in their own hands.
“You’re always hurt when you lose a game like that,” Fogarty continued.
“It’s important you’re not too down on yourself. The crucial part is you look at the parts of the game we fell down in and they’re not going to reappear the following week and that’s what today is about, having a really good look.
“Tomorrow you move on and focus clearly on Treviso, who had a great result over in Italy and they’re holding that Champions Cup spot and they’re going to be coming over here full of energy.
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