Cian Healy could miss Ireland's opening six nations game in early February, after undergoing ankle surgery this week.
The Boys in Green play Scotland at the Aviva on February 2nd, which is in just under eight weeks.
Ireland are then at home to Wales six days later, on the eight of February. But with no game time in the run up to the competition, Healy may not be risked in either of these games.
The prop will also miss Leinster's remaining THREE Heineken Cup Pool stage games, against Northampton, Castres, and the Ospreys.
Leinster head coach Matt O'Connor also confirmed that Sean O'Brien will be touch and go for this weekend's Heineken Cup game with Northampton at the Aviva stadium.
The back rower picked up a dead leg in the first Northampton clash in Franklin Gardens.
