International prop John Hayes suffered a calf muscle injury in yesterday morning's training session in Limerick which puts him on the doubtful list for the game against Italy in Thomond Park on Saturday (3pm). Hayes missed out on Ireland's summer tour to the southern hemisphere through injury (groin) and only returned to competitive action last Friday when he turned out for Munster in their pre-season friendly against Rotherham. He played for about 50 minutes and showed no ill-effects and it is hoped that this latest set-back will not prevent him from gaining valuable game time with the RWC just over a month away.

However, he did end up on crutches after the training session and a decision on wheter or not he will be fit for Saturday's game is expected to be made later this afternoon.

Ireland ( v Italy, Thomond Park, Aug. 30th, 3pm).

15 - Girvan Dempsey (Leinster - Terenure College)14 - John Kelly (Munster - Cork Constitution)13 - Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster - Blackrock College) capt. 12 - Rob Henderson (Munster - Garryowen)11 - Denis Hickie (Leinster - St. Mary's College)10 - David Humphreys (Ulster - Dungannon) 9 - Guy Easterby (Rotherham) 1 - Marcus Horan (Munster - Shannon)2 - Shane Byrne (Leinster - Blackrock College)3 - John Hayes (Munster - Shannon)4 - Gary Longwell (Ulster - Ballymena)

5 - Leo Cullen (Leinster - Blackrock College)6 - Simon Easterby (Llanelli)7 - Eric Miller (Leinster - Terenure College)8 - Victor Costello (Leinster - St. Mary's College)

Replacements: 16 - Paul Shields (Ulster - Ballymena)17 - Justin Fitzpatrick (Castres)18 - Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster -Cork Constitution)19 - Kieron Dawson (London Irish) 20 - Brian O'Meara (Leinster - Cork Constitution)21 - Geordan Murphy (Leicester)22 - Jonathan Bell (Ulster - Dungannon).