Joey Boland could return to action with the Dublin hurlers sooner than expected.
The midfielder has missed the entire Allianz League campaign so far this year with a chipped a bone in his finger.
The Na Fianna club man looks likely to miss this weekend's league quarter-final clash with Limerick (5pm) which takes place at Croke Park ahead of the football league clash between Dublin and Derry (7pm).
If Ger Cunningham can guide the Boys in Blue to a league semi-final in April, it would give Boland the chance to get some vital competitive minutes under his belt ahead of the Leinster Championship in May.
