Brian O'Driscoll should be fit for Leinster's Heineken Cup final clash with Northampton in Cardiff on Saturday.
Talismanic centre recovers in time for Heineken Cup final
Brian O'Driscoll should be fit for Leinster's Heineken Cup final clash with Northampton in Cardiff on Saturday.
O'Driscoll had been a doubt for the match after injuring his knee during last weekend's Magners League semi-final victory over Ulster.
But the Ireland international looks likely to start in the showdown at the Millennium Stadium after training on Thursday.
The news that their talismanic centre will take the field will come as a huge boost to Leinster.
O'Driscoll scored in their semi-final victory over Toulouse and in March he became the highest try scorer in the history of the RBS Six Nations.
Potent
Leinster won the Heineken Cup two years ago when they beat Leicester in the final and the 33-year-old admits being part of that side has only made him hungry for more success.
"It's a very different mentality now," he said. "Winning it makes you hungrier for another.
"By winning it a second time you copper-fasten the fact that you are a quality side."
However, O'Driscoll knows that Northampton, who are the first team to have reached the final having won all eight games en route, will be no pushovers.
Saints will arrive at the Millennium Stadium missing only England flanker Tom Wood, who was ruled out on Wednesday with a hairline fracture to his leg.
Otherwise Jim Mallinder's men will be at full strength, including the potent combination of England duo Ben Foden and Chris Ashton.
Brilliant spectacle
"We like to play a wide game," said full-back Foden. "And all the signs are that it is going to be a brilliant spectacle.
"You are unlikely to get many chances like this in your career - any number of players will never be lucky enough to be in this position - so you have to make the most of the chance when it comes.
"Leinster have quality players across the entire side and have great strength in depth, but I guess their area around 10, 12 and 13 is certainly one of their greatest dangers.
"But although players like O'Driscoll and (Gordon) D'Arcy have done it all before, things have been bubbling over for the last few seasons for the Saints and the way our boys have been running lately we hope that we can find some holes out wide."
