Ulster and Leinster are sweating over the fitness of key Test stars Nick Timoney, Caelan Doris, Andrew Porter and Josh van der Flier ahead of their pivotal United Rugby Championship (URC) meeting this Friday night.<\/p>\n
The aforementioned quartet will all be sent for further investigations on their respective injuries, with a final call on their availabilities to be made later in the week.<\/p>\n
Both provinces will name their match-day squads on Thursday, ahead of the crucial clash at Affidea Stadium. The two sides are separated by just one place and one point heading into the game, and a win for either would put some much-needed daylight between themselves and the play-off-chasing pack heading into the final few rounds of the regular season.<\/p>\n
Ulster sweat over Nick Timoney<\/p>\n
Ireland forward Timoney suffered a hip issue in Ulster\u2019s<\/a> EPCR Challenge Cup win over La Rochelle last Friday night, and will be taken for further assessment.<\/p>\n EPCR Challenge Cup Team of the Week: Forgotten England back \u2018sends Borthwick a message\u2019 with \u2018ice-cold\u2019 display while Ireland hopeful \u2018the pick of the bunch\u2019 in Ulster win<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cNick Timoney was withdrawn due to a hip injury during Friday\u2019s Challenge Cup Quarter-Final victory over La Rochelle,\u201d Ulster said in a post on social media.<\/p>\n \u201cHis availability for this Friday\u2019s clash with Leinster will be assessed through the week.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n He is, however, their only fresh injury concern heading into this weekend\u2019s meeting with Leinster.<\/p>\n Leinster injuries pile up as Ireland quartet among five blows<\/p>\n Leinster\u2019s<\/a> injuries have already been a major issue this season, with Jack Boyle, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, Diarmuid Mangan, Paddy McCarthy and RG Snyman all ruled out long-term, and it seems there is no end in sight for Leo Cullen.<\/p>\n