O'Driscoll reluctant to forecast return

News round-up: Although Brian O'Driscoll will resume light training later this week, the player himself has confirmed that any resulting conjecture of a speedy return from his torn hamstring is jumping the gun.

O'Driscoll's hamstring has been treated for the past 10 days with ice and compression but his return to light training, in the shape of some upper body work in the gym, is no more than was initially expected, and the Irish and Leinster centre is reluctant to forecast when he will play again, be it in time for Ireland's opening Six Nations game in Paris on February 14th or not.

"It's not something that you want to rush and it's far too early to say when I will be back. I really couldn't say when that will be. It might be three weeks, or it might be four to six weeks, or even longer. It's making progress, but no more than to be expected over the first two weeks."

There's certainly no chance of him being back for the end of Leinster's pool campaign in the Heineken Cup, which continues with the visit of Cardiff to Lansdowne Road this Friday.

Victor Costello looks the least worrying of Leinster's backrow injured trio with Leinster coach Gary Ella saying yesterday that a decision on Eric Miller's shoulder injury won't be made until Wednesday or Thursday.

Alas, Des Dillon is rated an "unlikely" starter as his shoulder injury could keep him out for two weeks, although against that Shane Jennings is expected to be fit again this week. Ella will announce his side tomorrow.

Meanwhile, England coach Clive Woodward will be considering his outhalf options over the next 48 hours as he waits for news on the severity of Charlie Hodgson's knee injury. The Sale playmaker limped off shortly before half-time in the Sharks' 23-16 defeat by Leinster after suffering damage to the same knee which kept him out for eight months last year.

He will be examined by a specialist this evening but will not know the results for another two days, and along with Woodward he will be hoping that it is not a recurrence of the problem which forced him to miss the World Cup.

Hodgson is Jonny Wilkinson's deputy and would have a crucial role to play in England's Grand Slam defence which begins against Italy on February 15th, providing vital cover at centre and outhalf .

If the worst case scenario materialises and Woodward is denied both Hodgson and Wilkinson, he will probably look to Alex King and Paul Grayson to fill the shoes of his midfield generals.

Grayson was involved Down Under - he was a peripheral figure with Wilkinson the undisputed number one - but Woodward knows the Northampton favourite is a solid performer with an assured boot.