Brian O'Driscoll will miss at least the first two matches of Ireland's four‑Test schedule this month because of a neck/shoulder injury which has restricted his ability to train.

He would probably have been rested on Saturday against Scotland in any case given his involvement in the Magners League final in May – Declan Kidney will delay the return of most of those from that game until the France Test a week later – but the injury will be a cause for concern, despite Ireland's manager, Paul McNaughton, playing it down.

"He's been doing 80% of the work over the last two weeks," McNaughton said. "I'm not too concerned about him. He's got a problem with his shoulder/neck and he's been getting some traction on it. But, as I said, he's making progress. He's doing everything except contact up to this week."

McNaughton said the door was still open for Gordon D'Arcy and Stephen Ferris, both of whom will also miss the Scotland and France games and are struggling to be fit for the World Cup. Ferris has not played since January when he had a knee operation. D'Arcy had a knee operation as well but not until late June and although he is running now the issue is how much of a pre-season he can complete to make him a viable option for New Zealand.

"It's a race against time for those two guys but they are making progress," McNaughton said. "Gordon D'Arcy in particular made a lot of progress last week."

There is more positive news on the hooker Jerry Flannery, who will be available for selection for the Scotland Test when the team is announced on Friday. Flannery's season was destroyed by a succession of calf injuries which threatened his career, but following surgery he is at last on the right road.

Rob Kearney and Geordan Murphy will also be available this weekend. Murphy missed most of the season after a shoulder operation and Kearney has not played since the November series last year when he damaged his knee cartilage. Shane Jennings only resumed contact this week however after breaking his arm in the Magners final.