Dan Sheehan is in line to return from his knee injury early in the new year, with the Ireland and Leinster hooker making good progress on his cruciate ligament recovery.
The 26-year-old suffered a torn ACL during Ireland's first Test defeat to South Africa in Pretoria in early July, but is hopeful of making his comeback for the province early in the Six Nations window.
"Hopefully into the new year. It might take a month or two, but that's what I'm sort of aiming at," Sheehan said.
"I'd love to get a good chunk of the season, see how we go. I've been conscious not to put a timeframe on it, because then it would be tempting to rush back, and it's very much a week-to-week thing.
"Just for the mind, I don't want to put an exact date on it because then I'd be rushing.
"In terms of the knee, it's coming along very nicely. Emma Galvin, my physio, has worked her ass off to get me to a good spot. I haven't had one setback yet, so hopefully in the new year I can get kicking.
"I don't want to rush it at the same time, it's quite tempting, especially after the last month watching the lads out there playing big games. You're like 'I really want to get back,' but I'll make sure I'm 100% right, and that's when I'll go back."
It was a first major injury for the front row forward, who has been almost ever-present in the Ireland team since making his debut in late 2021.
Sheehan's rise to being one of the elite hooker in the game happened in a flash in 2021.
He had started just five times for the province when he was drafted into the Irish squad in November 2021, and within six months he had established himself as first choice for both province and country, before being nominated for World Rugby's breakthrough player of the year in 2022.
"I was able to get over the first hurdle of getting the surgery and getting into the right mindset early on, and seeing it as a time to reflect.
"I've been flat out since I made my debut for Leinster three or four years ago. It's nice to have a period of time to reflect back, analyse the last couple of years, see areas you can improve on, and give the body a bit of a rest.
"It's pretty tricky trying to do that week on week when you don't have the time to look back. In that sense it's grand.
"It gave me a bit of a chance, I've come on as a charity partner with GOAL, so I've done some work with them around their campaigns like Jersey Day or the GOAL Mile coming up at Christmas. It's tricky when you're playing to do that sort of stuff. It's nice to throw your hand at stuff like that," he added.
Given the timing of the injury, Sheehan was two months into his rehab by the time the new season rolled around, and so was able to get a head start on his recovery.
However, the hooker admits the reality of his layoff hit hard last month, when the Autumn Nations Series rolled around.
"By the time everyone was back playing games again I was two months in and going well.
"The last couple of weeks have been tough, when lads are playing big Leinster games, big Interpros in Croker, and the last four international games are tough.
"You're not feeling the nerves on an international week which is just bizarre at this point, because for the last three years it's been every time there's been an international game you get those nerves, you're in a hotel preparing for battle, and I was on the couch watching the game, or just going down to watch it with a few of the lads.
"In that sense it's been tricky, but I've been kept busy with rehab, just ticking away, and throwing my hand at a few things, helping out lads I see every day in Leinster, and keeping the mind busy, which is the main thing," he added.
