Josh van der Flier will return to fitness in plenty of time to challenge for selection World Cup.
That's the prediction of Leinster boss Leo Cullen after it was confirmed that the Ireland flanker had groin surgery and will be out for 12 weeks.
"He'll be fine, from what I've been told," said Cullen. "It's just tight to get back for anything at the end of the season.
"He'll finish the season probably fit and raring to go, I'd imagine.
"Then he'll take his holidays, build into the pre-season. The World Cup is next season - which people tend to have forgotten since day one of this season.
"So he'll be back for the pre-World Cup warm up games, wherever he sits in the pecking order. It's a tough break for Josh."
Leo Cullen motivating Leinster's wounded warriors for Ulster threat
James Lowe has recovered from a shoulder knock but Robbie Henshaw appears to be out of contention for the province's Champions Cup quarter-final clash with Ulster.
Henshaw saw a specialist in the UK due to the length of his absence with a dead leg and had a minor procedure done.
Henshaw is "less likely, than likely" to play, according to Cullen.
He added: "Whatever way the tear in the muscle was, the dead leg was initially what the cause of concern was but there was a little bit more damage a bit deeper in.
"It was a little bit unusual from initially the way it presented as a dead leg. He had a little minor procedure done."
Ross Byrne will be assessed ahead of the knock-out clash. Byrne was named to start in the defeat to Edinburgh last Friday, but felt tightness in his foot during the Captain's Run and withdrew as a precaution.
Sean Cronin is another doubt after he came off at half-time in Edinburgh with a head injury. The hooker will follow return to play protocols.
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