Cheika hopeful on O’Driscoll recovery

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL is battling to be fit for Leinster’s assault on another Heineken Cup title when they meet Clermont Auvergne in the quarter-final on April 9.

The Irish captain is undergoing intensive treatment on a medial ligament strain sustained in the Triple Crown defeat by Scotland and will miss both Saturday’s Magners League game with Connacht at the RDS (4.30pm) and the Good Friday clash with arch rivals Munster.

That leaves Leinster coach Michael Cheika praying for successful medical intervention as O’Driscoll joined a serious list of walking wounded within the squad.