Leinster or London Irish? Exiled secondrow Bob Casey will decide in the next fortnight whether to return home or commit to his present club for the foreseeable future.
His aims of regaining a place in the Irish set-up ahead of the 2007 World Cup and playing Heineken European Cup rugby next season will dictate a final destination. Both ambitions would appear to have a healthier chance of coming to pass with a return to Leinster.
Despite overtures from Gloucester last summer, the 27-year-old confirmed yesterday that only two possibilities were being considered. "I'm very happy here at London Irish so I would only move to Leinster as they are my home-town team and because it might improve my chances of playing for Ireland again.
"I'm still talking to both (the IRFU and London Irish) at the moment so I hope to make a decision before the end of the month."
Casey moved to London in 2002 (two years after winning the last of his five Irish caps) and has played only one season of European Cup rugby since. Competing in European club rugby's premier competition is seemingly a prerequisite for selection on Eddie O'Sullivan's national squad.
London Irish have slipped to fifth in the English Premiership after consecutive defeats to Wasps and Leicester but they are still on course to qualify for Europe. They can also make the breakthrough by winning the European Challenge Cup as victory over Parma and Pau in the coming weeks would see them progress to the quarter-finals.
The in-form Casey was overlooked for the November internationals despite injuries to Paul O'Connell, Malcolm O'Kelly and Matt McCullough with Munster reserve lock Trevor Hogan even drafted into the training camp ahead of him.
The temptation to return home is enhanced by the renewed team spirit at Leinster under Michael Cheika coupled with the absence of a regular partner for O'Kelly in the provincial engine room.
"They seem to be having fun at Leinster at the moment and I certainly like the style they are playing, throwing the ball around and enjoying their rugby," added Casey.
Another position Leinster would be keen to strengthen before next season is outhalf but no approach has been made for Andrew Dunne despite the former Belvedere schoolboy's failure to establish a regular starting berth at Bath this season. Dunne has been excluded from the 22-man squad since November as centre Olly Barkley acts as cover for the incumbent number 10 Chris Malone.
Meanwhile, Guy Easterby is expected to be available for Leinster's European Cup tie against Glasgow at the RDS this Saturday despite having three teeth knocked out against former club Llanelli last weekend. Tighthead prop Will Green is still nursing a damaged collarbone but Robert Kearney and Ciarán Potts are expected to come back into consideration after injury. The usual enlarged squad will be announced tomorrow.
Some 10,000 tickets have already been sold for the game that goes out live from 5.15pm on Sky Sports and RTÉ. Joel Jutge will referee.
On Friday, Munster line out in the familiar surroundings of the Stade Pierre-Antoine for a do-or-die encounter with Castres. John Kelly, John Hayes, Jerry Flannery and Marcus Horan are all expected to be on the Thursday morning flight out of Shannon.
Ulster also report only minor "bumps and bruises" as they attempt to maintain Ravenhill's impregnable reputation against Biarritz. Both games kick off at 7.30pm with the Munster fixture live on Sky Sports and officiated by England's Chris White.
Connacht's hopes of qualifying for next year's European Cup reside primarily in winning the Challenge Cup. They need two victories and a bonus point in their remaining group games, starting this Saturday against Montpellier at the Sportsground before travelling to Sicily to play Amatori Catania.
Ray Hogan has recovered from the foot problem that ruled him out of Friday's defeat to the Dragons and centre Darren Yapp is back training after a two-month absence due to a calf strain. Captain Andrew Farley (neck) and John Hearty (hamstring) are the main injury concerns against Montpellier, who lost 52-28 recently to Castres.
The International Rugby Board announced yesterday it has appointed Gilbert as the exclusive official ball supplier for the IRB Rugby World Cup 2007.
