Martin Moore will need to prove that he is fit enough to take his place as Mike Ross' deputy at tighthead this week in order to make the final squad.
Moore is expected to be involved in Leinster's first pre-season game against Ulster tomorrow night, with the teams being named today. The Irish Times is reporting that the 24-year-old is being given as much time as possible to recover from his second shoulder surgery in the last seven months.
He will then need to be involved for Ireland's final game against Wales before they name their 31-man squad for the World Cup. If Moore is unable to prove his fitness, new cap Nathan White is in prime position to travel after impressing off the bench last week.
White has also been released to Connacht to garner some gametime for their pre-season game against Munster this weekend.
It's becoming increasingly likely that Schmidt will bring five props - two specialists on each side and a utility in his 17 forwards, instead of three specialists on both sides despite fitness concerns over the likes of Cian Healy, Moore, and White.
Tournament rules dictate that no player can be swapped out of the 31-man squad 48 hours before a game, meaning that should an injury happen to a prop in that period that Schmidt would be left with the minimum number of props for a game.
Michael Bent and Jack McGrath are the only props that have experience playing both sides of the scrum, but McGrath hasn't played tighthead for a number of years.
Picking just five props will allow Schmidt to bring both a fourth lock and a five back row player meaning that the likes of Jordi Murphy, Chris Henry and Donnacha Ryan are all increasingly likely to travel.
Kieran Marmion is another who Schmidt will be looking at this week, after Isaac Boss' below par performance against Scotland - although the Irish Times are reporting that Schmidt is considering only bringing two specialist scrumhalves - with Ian Madigan as an emergency cover - allowing an extra centre cover like Darren Cave or Gordon D'Arcy to make the squad.
See Also: Who Will Make Ireland's RWC Squad? Part 1
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Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
