'A fairly strong chance that he'll be available': Munster's Jack Crowley likely to be fit for Páirc Uí Chaoimh showdown with Gloucester

Jack Crowley of Munster dejected after his side's defeat in the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and DHL Stormers. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Munster head coach Clayton McMillan determined first-choice fly-half Jack Crowley "a fairly strong chance" of being fit to take part in the province's Champions Cup round two clash with English Premiership side Gloucester at Cork's Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday week. 

Crowley has missed out on selection for the competition opener against Premiership leaders Bath - coached by ex-Munster boss Johann van Graan  - having suffered an ankle injury against the Stormers at Thomond Park last time out, with the experience of JJ Hanrahan preferred to the Tony Butler at ten in the Cork native's absence. 

"I think there's a fairly strong chance that he'll be available," McMillan said of Crowley, who did manage to complete the full 80, despite the knock he took early on last week. "He improved, actually, pretty rapidly over the week, but he just wasn't quite really early enough to be a serious consideration for tomorrow's game. But if he continues to progress at the same rate, he'll be on the team sheet next week."

While the game has come too soon for Crowley, one man eager for involvement will be new Munster signing Michael Ala'alatoa. 

The former Leinster prop - who has joined on a short-term deal from French outfit Clermont Auvergne - will make his Munster bow off the replacement bench at The Rec, and will add major experience and an extra steel to the Munster scrum. 

"Yeah, he's been great actually," McMillan said, speaking on how the 34-year-old has settled into the Munster fold. "He's an experienced character and he's come in, he's fitted in seamlessly. He's familiar with a number of bodies that we already have here. He's a really good addition and we'll put him onto the bench and he'll play an important role from there."

Springbok lock Jean Kleyn has been named in the starting 15 in one of five changes made for the clash with the English Premiership and Challenge Cup champions, having been away on international duty with Rassie Erasmus' South Africa for their 73-0 drubbing of Wales last week. 

Kleyn's absence was felt - most notably in the scrum - in the game of the two halves defeat to the Stormers last Saturday evening and McMillan touched on what he will add to the pack this Saturday. 

"Yeah, he's a big man, experienced. It's that big body that is required in these types of fixtures. He's been a welcome addition.

"He's a good quality man who is Munster through and through, he has been part of the furniture for a long time now and we miss him when he's not there so we're really grateful to have him back."