Tadhg Furlong still a doubt for Ireland return away to Wales but Mack Hansen and Joe McCarthy back in full training

Tadhg Furlong remains a significant doubt for Ireland's Guinness Six Nations meeting with Wales in Cardiff next week, although Mack Hansen and Joe McCarthy both look set to be involved in round three.

Furlong has missed the opening two games of the championship in what’s been an injury-hit campaign for the 32-year-old, and he sat out today’s training session at the IRFU’s high performance centre in Dublin.

Furlong has played just once since October following a bad run of hamstring and calf issues, and Ireland’s head of athletic performance Aled Walters has hinted that he may need some more time to get himself right for the crucial round four meeting with France on 8 March.

"I think we’ll need to make a call during the week, he’s got a bit of work to do," Walters said.

"But we’d be anticipating that, if he’s not there, he’s close anyway."

In better news, Hansen and McCarthy both look set to be available for the trip to the Principality Stadium.

McCarthy missed the opening two wins against England and Scotland following a concussion, while Hansen was a late scratch from the win at Murrayfield last Sunday due to a hamstring niggle.

Captain Caelan Doris was a notable absentee from this morning’s session, although Walters insists the Ireland captain is just being allowed extra rest after a particularly taxing couple of games.

"It’s just general [rest], they’ve been two pretty attritional Test matches, haven’t they?

"The way Caelan plays, you’re going to pick up little bangs and bruises. It’s just that."

"Mack and Joe are training fully, they’re good. It’s simply a management piece for Tadhg [Furlong] and Caelan.

"These weeks are great, you get to manage some guys. Some need a push, some need to be pulled back a little bit. That’s just