Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan will decide tomorrow whether to risk Peter Stringer in the final World Cup warm-up game against Italy at Ravenhill after the scrumhalf suffered a back spasm in training.
Stringer came through the captain's run unscathed this evening but O'Sullivan will play it safe if there is the slightest doubt over the condition of his first choice number nine ahead of tomorrow's game.
The injury is not a serious concern to medical staff and the coach said today that he expected Stringer to play in the first international at the Belfast venue for 54 years.
If he is not passed fit Isaac Boss will step into the breach and Eoin Reddan will move on to the bench.
"I am reasonably confident he will come through it," said the coach today, "but we'll err on the safe side with him and if something happens there is no issue really, Isaac will jump in and start and Eoin Reddan will be on the bench."
Losing Stringer would be a nuisance for O'Sullivan. The coach was looking to get game time for as many of his first choices as possible before their departure for France.
He is already without flankers David Wallace (ankle) and Stephen Ferris (knee), captain Brian O'Driscoll (fractured sinus) and winger Shane Horgan (knee). Italy also have their injuries with Mauro Bergamasco, Ramiro Pez, Andrea Masi and Santiago Dellape all laid up with minor knocks.
However, if Stringer is feeling tender in the morning the safest place is on the touchline, given the likelihood of a physical, but ultimately clean, encounter with the an abrasive Italian pack.
Stringer is Ireland's second-most capped player behind lock Malcolm O'Kelly with 76 appearances. Fullback Girvan Dempsey and prop John Hayes will move to within one of that total tomorrow night.
The two sides know eachother well having met 14 times in Test rugby. Ireland have won 11 of those encounters and all eight that have taken place in the Six Nations championships.
Kick-off in Ravenhill is at 7.45pm.
: Girvan Dempsey; Geordan Murphy, Andrew Trimble, Gordon D'Arcy, Denis Hickie; Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer/Isaac Boss; Marcus Horan, Rory Best, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell (capt), Simon Easterby, Neil Best, Denis Leamy.
: Jerry Flannery, Simon Best, Malcolm O'Kelly, Alan Quinlan, Isaac Boss/Eoin Reddan, Paddy Wallace, Brian Carney.
: David Bortolussi; Kaine Robertson, Gonzalo Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, Matteo Pratichetti; Roland De Marigny, Alessandro Troncon; Salvatore Perugini, Fabio Ongaro, Martin Castrogiovanni, Valerio Bernabo, Marco Bortolami (capt), Alessandro Zanni, Robert Barbieri, Sergio Parisse.
: Leonardo Ghiraldini, Matias Aguero, Josh Sole, Manoa Vosawai, Paul Griffen, Pablo Canavosio, Ezio Galon.
: Nigel Owens (Wales)
