O’Connell determined to feature against Harlequins

Having played his first senior Munster game since October on Saturday night, lock Paul O’Connell is confident his fitness will be up to standard for the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Harlequins in two weeks.

The Limerick man showed no signs of rustiness in Musgrave Park on Saturday as he crowned a man of the match performance with his first Munster try in four years, helping secure a 22-0 victory over Connacht.

Having endured his share of injuries throughout his career O’Connell knows how long it takes to get back to full fitness and he believes Saturday’s run out has put him on the right track.

“I’ll be fine by Harlequins. I know that myself,” O’Connell told the Irish Independent.

“It usually takes me three matches to get my fitness back and I’ve two-and-a-half played now. I will feel better as a result of this one.”

Pleased as he was with his performance against Connacht the second row knows there are areas he can improve on but he admitted it was a relief just to be back playing.

“It was great to get through the 80 minutes. I had a few good carries but some of my breakdown stuff I wouldn’t be too happy about and I will take a close look at that.

“But it is great to be back. The last few months I’ve been doing rehab on the weekends and watching games from the stands so it was great to be able to play.”

The timing of O’Connell’s return means he might have a chance of sneaking into Warren Gatland’s British and Irish Lions squad for the tour of Australia this summer but the player insists his current focus is on his provincial duties.

“I’m not thinking about that. I’m just happy to be back playing for Munster.

“I want to play as well and for as long as I can for Munster. That’s my sole focus.”