Ronan O'Gara is confident that Johnny Sexton will recover from a head injury in time to skipper Ireland against Six Nations favourites France at the Aviva Stadium.
Sexton underwent a HIA last Sunday night after Ireland's opening championship defeat in Cardiff and, like James Ryan, is undergoing return to play protocols after his head collided with Justin Tipuric's knee in the 69th minute of the 23-16 loss to Wales.
Meanwhile Peter O'Mahony is likely to go before a disciplinary hearing tomorrow after he was red carded in the 13th minute and he could pick up a two-game ban.
If Sexton doesn't make it for Sunday's encounter, Andy Farrell will have to decide to go with Billy Burns - who missed a vital kick to touch to deny Ireland a match-winning try chance - or Ross Byrne, who didn't make the bench last weekend.
It is a must-win encounter for Ireland if they are to have a chance of winning the title.
"It's not a six-day turnaround, which is important, it's a traditional match week," said former Ireland no 10 O'Gara.
"They'll have two rugby sessions this week and do you back the work you want to get done during the week, as opposed to your captain coming back on the Friday?
"But all systems for me point to Johnny starting and then it's who is going to be on the bench for him.
“It's probably a different decision if he's not your captain, but Andy Farrell has made him his captain - so he is your leader, the guy you backed.
"He isn't in control of the HIA. He got a knee to the head and he felt it at that time but, from what I am reading or saw after the game, he seems to be good.
"He did the press conference and all systems point to him being ready to train when everyone else is ready to train.
“There would be a slight semblance of pushing things just because he can't train...but for 10 years there have been times when he hasn't been able to train, so you have to be consistent in your behaviour”.
