There has been considerable speculation over the futures of more high-profile names this season — Sean O’Brien, Conor Murray and Jamie Heaslip among them — but Moore’s retention would be as significant as any.

Ireland’s lack of tighthead props has been well-aired so it would have been a massive blow to lose a man who looks like a natural heir to Mike Ross with club and country.

Still just 22, the Lansdowne clubman has made just 17 appearances for the senior team but a dozen of those have been in this campaign and his first three Euro outings have also been banked.

“I’d like to see my future here,” he said yesterday. “I’m very happy here and how things are going for me. Obviously, if we can get things sorted in the next few days, that’s what’s going to happen.”

The deal should be done and dusted by the time Northampton Saints arrive in the Aviva Stadium for Saturday’s Round four Heineken Cup group game (6pm) when Leinster will look to back up the sensational 40-7 win they recorded at Franklin’s Gardens last weekend.

Moore played the last 23 minutes of that victory and Leinster are further boosted by the fact that any injuries picked up appear to be minor.

Sean O’Brien (dead leg) is expected to pass muster while Isaac Boss (tight hamstring) and Cian Healy (leg) should also put their hand up for selection after being withdrawn from duty late on last week.

However, such is the attritional nature of the game that coach Matt O’Connor will be expected to make one or two changes while it remains to be seen which of Ian Madigan orJimmy Gopperth get the nod at 10.

Gopperth earned starts in rounds one and two against the Ospreys and Castres but Madigan was favoured in the East Midlands for a win that has marked Leinster out again as one of the tournament favourites.

Due reward for his patience, then.

“Yeah, it would have been easy to let myself get frustrated, but I’ve just dealt with things week on week and I didn’t look at the first Heineken Cup game of the season and say ‘here’s my big chance and now it’s gone’” said Madigan yesterday.

“Likewise, when Jimmy got the second start against Castres, I was more focusing on what I could improve on myself and just working closely with Matt to learn the new gampelan and the style of play that he wanted.

“Now I’ve got a few games under my belt and I seem to be going well enough.”