Declan Kidney will delay naming his starting XV for Sunday’s Six Nations clash against France until Friday morning in a bid to give Jamie Heaslip as much time as possible to prove his fitness.

The Leinster number eight continued his rehabilitation from an ankle injury at training today but has still not taken part in contact drills so far.

Ireland will train again in the morning after which Kidney was expected to name his side before the players take a day off on Thursday. He has now delayed that decision until Friday.

Andrew Trimble is expected to be available for selection despite nursing a fractured bone in his hand but Tommy Bowe’s knee injury means he will have to wait at least until the Scottish match at Murrayfield on February 27th.