Ireland and Leinster fullback Rob Kearney has suffered a fresh injury blow which will rule him out of the province's PRO14 games against the Cheetahs and Southern Kings in South Africa.
Kearney, who won the last of his 79 international caps against Wales in March and didn't play for the remainder of the 2016-17 season, picked up his latest knock in Friday's 37-9 victory over Cardiff Blues.
The two-time British & Irish Lions tourist played just nine games last season for the province but had started both of their opening games this term. Talking to reporters Monday, Leinster forwards coach John Fogarty insisted Kearney can fight back from injury, with an eye on domestic and international honours.
"It's gutting for him to be honest," said Fogarty. "It's so important that everyone who travels [to South Africa] is ready to go and he's not in a fit state to travel. It's disappointing.
"I share the same frustration and I'm sure he's at this moment at the end of his tether a small bit. He's annoyed, of course. He still has big plans, he's got a season ahead of him which he wants to make his mark in both here and for Ireland.
"He wants to be fit and be successful. He's very disappointed, but he's realistic in his approach. He knows the process he has to go through now to get back. You just have to go to work with it, be disappointed for a little bit but get on with it."