Six Nations: Ireland boosted by news Conor Murray fit to face Italy

Ireland have received a lift ahead of the Six Nations with the news scrum-half Conor Murray will be fit to face Italy in Saturday's opener.

The British and Irish Lion is free from a neck injury and is back in full training ahead of the trip to the Stadio Olimpico.

"Conor Murray trained well on Friday and he progressed to full contact training," said Ireland team manager Mick Kearney.

"He has seen a specialist, we had an open training session in the Aviva (Stadium) on Friday and Conor took a full part in that.

"There was some minor contact in that session but he came through it really well, and we would expect that Conor would be available for selection."

There was some minor contact in that session but he came through it really well, and we would expect that Conor would be available for selection.

Ireland may opt to rest several key men battling minor problems when they face the Italians, with Kearney admitting there is "some small doubt" over the participation of star No 8 Jamie Heaslip, who is carrying a shoulder problem.

Long-term absentee Sean O'Brien is ready for a return to action but after 14 months on the sidelines with persistent shoulder injuries, he may be held back until the clash with France on Valentine's Day.

Prop Cian Healy and first-choice fly-half Jonny Sexton are also targeting the Dublin clash with Les Bleus to make their comebacks following respective hamstring and head injuries.

"Jamie Heaslip continues to rehab his shoulder and we are hopeful that he'll train fully tomorrow," added Kearney.

"I would say there's probably some small doubt about him, but he's recovered really well.

"Jamie being the professional athlete that he is, he really does look after his body extremely well and would have worked on it over the weekend. So I suppose the next day or two will tell a lot, but there would be a small degree of doubt about him, maybe, yes.

"We are hopeful Cian Healy will return to full training at some stage this week.

"Depending on how he goes this week, if he comes through some tests he will be allowed to train fully for the rest of the week.

"I suppose if that happens with Cian, given the athlete that he is, I would expect that he would be in consideration for the French game, yes.

"Eoin Reddan is making good progress from a knee ligament injury and we're hopeful that he'll train tomorrow also. Jonathan Sexton is seeing his neurologist in Paris on Thursday.

"I must say he's been in camp all last week, he's trained really well, very focused, taking a full part except for the full contact. So he'll see his neurologist on Thursday, hopefully he'll get a clean bill of health and it will be all systems go for the following week."