Paul Wallace is to undergo a groin operation that will sideline him for the rest of the club season, but not for Ireland's tour to Australia at the end of May. The Lions and Ireland prop has struggled through matches but two days ago saw a specialist who advised surgery.
"I will have the operation next week and will be out for three to four weeks which rules me out of the rest of Saracens' season," Wallace said. "But I should be back, barring complications, in time to tour Australia if selected.
"I have a ruptured tendon in my groin and the operation is to insert a sheath which protects the tendon until it is fully healed. Kyran Bracken had a similar injury and he was back within three weeks."
Wallace is currently negotiating with Saracens with regard to a new contract, as his existing one ends in June. His brother Richard, who may return early next week to the first team after 13 weeks on the sideline with an ankle injury, will leave the club at the end of the season. He is considering a number of offers, including one to return home.
Meanwhile, Lansdowne will be without A internationals Barry Everitt and Gordon D'Arcy for tomorrow's pivotal AIB League Division One clash with Buccaneers at Ballinasloe. Out-half Everitt broke a thumb while playing for Ireland in the recent Hong Kong Sevens tournament. He is replaced by the versatile Brian Glennon.
D'Arcy has been out of commission for eight weeks since damaging a hamstring while playing in an A international against Wales.
Shane Horgan is named in the side, but will undergo a late fitness test on a pelvic injury suffered in Hong Kong. Ray Niland is named on the left wing but he would move to the centre if Horgan was ruled out. Niall Gunne stands by for a call-up.
Angus McKeen is recovering from a calf injury, but will have to prove his fitness today. International prop Reggie Corrigan must content himself with a place on the bench, having not played a match since tearing knee ligaments against Wales A.
Buccaneers supremo Eddie O'Sullivan has confirmed that Tom Stuart Trainor will fill the vacancy left in the original selection.
Garryowen will be without centre and captain Killian Keane and second row Shane Leahy, both of whom failed fitness tests. New Zealander Rob Durno comes into the centre with Dave Peters replacing Leahy. Jack Clarke is away on business, so Melvyn McNamara is brought in on the right wing while Pat Humphreys is preferred to Paul Cunningham at hooker.
LANSDOWNE: R Kearns; M Dillon, S Horgan, K McQuilkin, R Niland; B Glennon, D O'Mahony; E Bohan, C Egan, A McKeen, G Fulcher, S O'Connor, S McEntee, C McEntee, L Toland.
GARROWEN: D Crotty; M McNamara, K Hartigan, R Durno, K O'Riordan; J Staunton, T Tierney; N Hartigan, P Humphreys, R Laffan, R Leahy, D Peters, P Hogan, B Cronin, D Wallace.
