Munster hopeful of Peter O'Mahony return as injuries ease

Peter O'Mahony is winning his race to be fit for Munster's crucial Investec Champions Cup Pool 3 meeting with Toulon on Saturday, while Joey Carbery and Niall Scannell are also in contention for a return to ease the province's injury worries.

O'Mahony hasn't played since suffering a shoulder injury in his side's win against the Stormers in November, with Munster winning just one of the six games the flanker has missed.

His planned December return was put on hold when the knock was slow to heal, but attack coach Mike Prendergast said they were "hopeful" the 34-year-old could be available for the meeting with last season's Challenge Cup winners.

"We had a good training session yesterday, a good one today. We'll know more on Thursday but in terms of process and steps, he looks like he's moving forward towards the weekend and hopefully, all going well, we'll have him."

With close to 20 players on the injury list in recent weeks, the province return to action after a week off which has allowed them to get several players back to full training. Alex Nankivell and Patrick Campbell both return from knocks to boost the backline numbers, while Niall Scannell and Joey Carbery are also back in full training again after respective groin and wrist issues.

Those returns couldn't have come at a better time, with Munster knowing a defeat away to Toulon on Saturday could see them requiring a miracle to make the last 16 of the competition.

And Prendergast (below) says it was pleasing to see some extra numbers out on the training pitch this week as they look to rescue their Champions Cup campaign.

"Especially the individuals that were training, the likes of Joey, Pete, Niall Scannell, a massive amount of experience.

"Going back into a new