Brian O'Driscoll was injured in a Leinster Heineken Cup game on 9 October

Brian O'Driscoll remains in contention for Ireland's opening autumn Test against South Africa on 6 November as he battles to overcome injury.

O'Driscoll has been not played since suffering a hamstring pull in a Heineken Cup game on 9 October.

Ireland defence coach Les Kiss said on Thursday that O'Driscoll had been putting in "some good rehab work".

Keith Earls (ankle) again sat out training and is a major fitness doubt for the game against the Springboks.

"The medical staff are doing a fantastic job there (with O'Driscoll)," said Kiss.

"Talking to him today after the session he was very happy where he ended up.

"He has another (rehab) session tomorrow and a couple of days rest where he will obviously be doing a little bit of stuff and we will see how he goes after that."

The Irish squad will train in Limerick on Friday and after a weekend break will meet up again in Dublin on Monday.

Kiss described Ireland's opening week of their training camp as "fantastic".

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"We've all been waiting to get together in preparation for a fairly tough schedule and the Springboks game first up has really been our focus.

"The guys, you know I have to compliment them.

"They've come here and embraced the new ideas that the coaching staff have put on the table, they've added their own bits to the mix and we're grateful that they've put in such a good performance for the week."

The Ireland defence coach says the team will face four "really physical teams" in the November games against the Springboks, Samoa, New Zealand and Argentina.

"That starts in defence in a lot of ways with the Springboks in particular, as they challenge you at the set piece.

"They challenge you around the edge of the rucks and they also have the ability to shift the ball around the park and hurt you in that way as well.

"Plus will they play a contestable kick game and challenge you in that way?

"So we have a lot on our plate to handle in that area but the approach so far has been fantastic as I said earlier and we are just really looking forward to that first game and obviously it being the Aviva's first game, we hope we can do it justice."

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