McLaughlin kicks to touch on Ferris’ battle for fitness

Concrete updates on Stephen Ferris’ ankle injury were thin on the ground in Belfast yesterday but all the indications are that the Ireland flanker will be named in the Ulster team to face Munster in Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final.

The 26-year old underwent a scan three days ago on the knock sustained against Aironi at Ravenhill on Friday night and was initially rated as doubtful after the procedure revealed significant ligament and muscle damage.

Coach Brian McLaughlin treated every question on the subject of his star flanker with caution yesterday but the bottom line is that Ferris will be given every second to get himself right for the trip to Limerick and a club statement confirmed they “remain hopeful” he will be fit.