A shaken-looking Ronan O'Gara was helped from the field during Munster's game against Edinburgh on Friday night, while the province's captain, Paul O'Connell, didn't even start the game because of a hip injury.

The official word from the province is that both will be fit in time for their Heineken Cup opener against Leicester at Welford Road next Sunday but it could be an anxious few days for Declan Kidney as the pair work on their recovery.

Things are no brighter for Leinster following their Magners League defeat to the Borders. Guy Easterby broke his jaw and will be out of action for six to eight weeks, Denis Hickie left the field with a lower-back injury, while Cameron Jowitt could also face a spell on the sidelines after sustaining a shoulder injury.

At least Leinster have decent back-up to cover their wounded. Chris Whitaker should make it back from a hamstring injury in time for Saturday's Heineken Cup opener against Gloucester, and Leinster have more than enough quality backs to cover Denis Hickie. Stephen Keogh would be a more-than-able deputy for Jowitt, although the Kiwi's abilities at the tail of the line-out will be missed by a side that are still struggling in that area.

Munster, though, don't quite have the replacements to mask any potential loss of either O'Gara or O'Connell.

Mick O'Driscoll is a morethan-able second-row replacement for the Munster captain but O'Connell's drive and leadership abilities would be sorely missed. When the British and Irish Lion missed the start of Munster's Heineken Cup campaign last term, his side struggled and his loss would be a huge blow in advance of the expected physical battle next Sunday.

As for O'Gara, word from the Munster camp indicates that he'll be fine and dandy for next weekend's showdown but his groggy exit from the Thomond Park pitch on Friday night hardly inspires confidence. The outhalf was clutching his left shoulder as he left the field, and if he doesn't heal as quickly as expected, Munster could be in a spot of bother at out-half.

Eoghan Hickey, the former Leinster back-up number 10, replaced O'Gara on Friday night but his Heineken Cup experience amounts to one brief substitute appearance last season. Jeremy Manning, meanwhile, appears to be way off form at this moment in time and it would be interesting to see who Kidney would plump for should O'Gara struggle to shake off his knock.