Rugby:Luke Fitzgerald is unlikely to be available for Leinster's final Heineken Cup pool three game against Montpellier on Saturday (1.30pm) as he continues his recovery from a neck injury that has sidelined him since St Stephen's Day.
Leinster’s quest to guarantee a home quarter-final should, however, be aided by the return of outhalf Jonathan Sexton and the availability of Kevin McLaughlin.
Sexton has made a good recovery from an ankle injury and Joe Schmidt is hopeful he will start, while McLaughlin has made good progress shaking off a shoulder complaint this week and will be considered for the matchday squad to be named tomorrow.
“I don't think Luke will be available unfortunately,” said Schmidt today. “Luke is probably a week or even just a day away. That's how fine the line is and we had a six-day turnaround (from the win over Glasgow).”
On Sexton, he added: “Jonny is coming along pretty well.”
Unbeaten Leinster have already qualified, thanks to four wins and a draw away to Montpellier, but even for the defending champions the knockout stages would be a far different prospect if they were to be contested anywhere but the Aviva Stadium.
A win of any sort will do, and would most likely lead to a quarter-final meeting with either Ulster or Harlequins, but defeat would almost certainly see them travelling for the quarters in April.
