Munster pair Archer and O'Sullivan step up recovery

Munster pair Stephen Archer and Jack O'Sullivan have stepped up their recovery from injury, but are yet to return to full training ahead of Sunday's Heineken Champions Cup trip to the Northampton Saints.

O'Sullivan hasn't featured since suffering a knee injury in the province's Round 6 defeat to Leinster in the BKT United Rugby Championship in October, while Archer has been sidelined with an ankle injury for the past eight weeks.

The province say the pair have increased their training volumes this week.

Head coach Graham Rowntree has no new injuries to contend with, after Sunday's Champions Cup defeat to Toulouse on Sunday.

Conor Murray could be in contention to return for the trip to Northampton. The scrum-half returned to full-training last week, having been sidelined with a groin injury since Ireland's win against South Africa on 5 November, however he wasn't risked for the last Sunday's Champions Cup opener.

Munster face the Saints at Cinch Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with the Premiership side having been well beaten 46-12 away to defending champions La Rochelle in their opening game.

Tom Ahern (shoulder), RG Snyman (knee), Fineen Wycherley (shoulder), Paddy Kelly (head), Jack Daly (knee), Andrew Conway (knee), Keynan Knox (knee) and Simon Zebo (knee) are all continuing to rehab.