Robbie Henshaw looks increasingly unlikely to win his race to be fit for Saturday's sold-out showdown against New Zealand.
Henshaw has yet to feature this season having suffered a foot injury and although he is set to step up his recovery this week, it looks like a big ask to prove his fitness in time for the weekend.
The Lions centre has hit the ground running on previous returns from injury, however, Andy Farrell made it clear last week that he would not rush Henshaw back.
“There's no pressure on Robbie," the Ireland boss said last Thursday.
"Robbie, he was on the outer (squad) last week doing his rehab, he's in camp this week still doing his rehab, he hasn't trained with us at all.
“He hasn't done much team work. If all goes well, there's a plan next week to reintegrate him into that type of thing. I've said to Robbie there's no pressure, it is what it is, when he's ready he's ready. There's no pushing from our side. We'll see how the coming days go for him.”
The latest update from the IRFU stated: "Robbie Henshaw will be re-integrated into team training across the week as he completes his rehab programme."
Bundee Aki and Garry Ringrose will be expected to renew their midfield partnership, as Farrell weighs up whether to stick with a winning team or freshen it up.
Gavin Coombes, who missed the 60-5 win over Japan due to a non-Covid related illness, has been ruled out of the All Blacks game.
The Munster No 8 will hope to recover in time to feature against Argentina next week.
Meanwhile, uncapped Connacht winger Mack Hansen has returned to his province, having trained with the Ireland squad for the first time last week.
IRELAND Autumn Nations Series Squad 2021
Backs (19)
Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 32 caps
Robert Baloucoune (Ulster/Enniskillen) 1 cap
Harry Byrne (Leinster/Lansdowne) 1 cap
Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 25 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 3 caps
Andrew Conway (Munster/Garryowen) 26 caps
Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 94 caps
Ciaran Frawley (Leinster/UCD)*
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 11 caps
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 52 caps
James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 14 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 30 caps
James Lowe (Leinster) 7 caps
Stuart McCloskey (Ulster/Bangor) 6 caps
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 90 caps
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 35 caps
Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 100 caps CAPTAIN
Simon Zebo (Munster/Cork Constitution) 35 caps
Forwards (19)
Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 5 caps
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 17 caps
Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 23 caps
Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 21 caps
Ultan Dillane (Connacht/Corinthians) 19 caps
Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 10 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 50 caps
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 110 caps
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 64 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 22 caps
Ronan Kelleher (Leinster/Lansdowne) 14 caps
Dave Kilcoyne (Munster/UL Bohemians) 45 caps
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 77 caps
Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 1 cap
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 38 caps
Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 1 cap
Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 33 caps
*denotes uncapped player
Autumn Nations Series Fixtures 2021
IRELAND v New Zealand
Aviva Stadium, Saturday 13th November, 2021
IRELAND v Argentina
Aviva Stadium, Sunday 21st November, 2021