Cork County Board secretary Kevin O’Donovan has said the new surface is still “vulnerable” and so, for the moment, neither Cork senior team is permitted to train on the pitch on weeks when they do not have a league fixture.

The company overseeing the replacement of the pitch at Páirc Uí Chaoimh have expressed delight at the progress of the work.

"We cannot ask our teams and supporters to endure another season where our flagship stadium is unavailable to host the games it was built for."

The Irish company behind the pitch where Munster’s European dream could come to an end has told the province they have nothing to fear — from the artificial surface at least — when they travel to Saracens tomorrow.