Connacht's Mack Hansen pencilled in for Munster return but Dragons clash too soon

Connacht's BKT United Rugby Championship match against Dragons will come too soon for Mack Hansen, but the Ireland winger is being pencilled in to face Munster in May.

Pete Wilkins’ side, ninth in the table following their 54-16 win over Zebre, travel to Rodney Parade on Saturday (8pm, live on RTÉ).

It had been hoped that Hansen, out of action since dislocating his shoulder against Munster at the start of the year, could feature but the 26-year-old will be given more time to recover.

"There was a best-case scenario where he could have been available for Dragons," Wilkins said on Monday morning.

"The unknown bit is working his way through the return to contact.

"He’s doing all the running and team elements in training in a non-contact bib but it’s the landing on the ground, the breakdown work, the tackle.

"It’s making sure, not just medically he’s good to go but in his own mind as well, he doesn’t feel compromised and suffer any loss of technique through that.

"He’s working really well through that and I’d hope he’ll be available for Munster (on 11 May)."

The Westerners' boss added that they had no major injury concerns following their bonus-point win over the Italians at the Dexcom Stadium but out-half JJ Hanrahan (above) will nurse a hamstring issue with fellow number 10 Jack Carty remaining out with a similar complaint.

"Jack’s certainly going to miss the Dragons game, we’d hope he’d be available thereafter," added Wilkins, who says Byron Ralston is closing in on a return also.

"We’re confident JJ will be fine for this week, he’ll be doing some of the training today and building through the week. There’s no major concerns there."

The Englishman was also positive about the chances of Santiago Cordero featuring before the end of