Munster pair set to return before end of regular season

Munster expect to have Oli Jager and Fineen Wycherley available "sooner rather than later" after the pair underwent minor knee operations last week.

Both players have begun their rehab programmes with the province, with Jager suffering the knock while on international duty with Ireland during the Guinness Six Nations.

Munster are yet to put a timeline on their return, but forwards coach Andi Kyriacou is confident the pair will be available for selection before the end of the BKT United Rugby Championship regular season.

"Fineen's going to be a bit earlier than Oli, but it's not as long as everyone though initially," he told RTÉ Sport.

"They were minor procedures, so we just see how they react to their rehab process now and we’ve got a great medical team and S&C team for them, and the lads will dive into their rehab and try get themselves back as fit as soon as possible.

"I don't have an exact date for you I’m afraid, but we’re hopeful it’ll be sooner rather than later."

Munster, who moved up to fourth place in the URC after Friday's bonus-point 27-17 win away to the Ospreys, will hope to continue their good form on Saturday when they host Cardiff at Thomond Park (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

Alex Nankivell (above) is in line to return after he missed the win in Swansea due to concussion, while Simon Zebo could also come into contention after a hip injury.

The province may reintroduce some more of their international players back into their squad, after Jack Crowley, Pater O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Tadhg Beirne and Calvin Nash all returned to training this week, however Kyriacou was coy on whether or not they would feature against the Welsh side.

Last weekend's results could hardly have gone better for Munster, whose bonus-point