The Leinster and Ireland flanker hasn’t played since dislocating a shoulder against Ulster at Christmas and the prognosis after surgery was that he would not play for club and country again until the 2014/15 campaign.

O’Brien stuck to that script in interviews last month but the sight of him acting as water carrier for the Heineken Cup defeat in Toulon two weekends ago rekindled hopes that the world-class flanker may see action sooner rather than later.

Ireland travel to Argentina for two Tests in June while Leinster face into the RaboDirect PRO12 play-offs in a month’s time and O’Brien conceded yesterday that the latter may well be a target.

“It’s a long shot but if things went really well this week and the next two weeks who knows. No-one can tell what is going to happen until I start doing more and more stuff, whether that be hitting pads or what-not, in a month’s time.”

As things stand, he is ahead of schedule and two weeks into what he described as a ‘mini-pre-season’ which involves mostly running and strength and conditioning work. But he spoke cautiously about returning to duty too soon.

As for Argentina? “I don’t know what Joe (Schmidt)’s plans are. I will have to speak to him and see what he’s thinking if I am fit. I’m presuming he is going to rest some lads going over there to keep them fresh for next year.”

Schmidt’s thinking will be coloured by the marathon campaign to come thanks to the 2015 World Cup which will start in mid-September and the preparations for which will eat into the usual summer off-season.

O’Brien was the star turn at Dublin’s Mansion House for the announcement that TV3 had won the right to broadcast all 48 matches next year and admitted that the event will soon be worming its way into the consciousness of the players.

“That’s the realisation of it and it will start to creep into players’ heads at the end of the season. I remember the last World Cup that, at the start of that season, there was a lot of talk about it. You wouldn’t be shouting it from the trees but, at the same time, you want to be playing well and be in form.

“You want to have a good Six Nations to be in with a good shout for the World Cup.”

O’Brien admitted that thoughts of Ireland’s chances at RWC 2015 had helped sway him towards staying with Leinster earlier this season when Toulon were heading the French posse to secure his signature.

“It was a massive factor in it actually. I mightn’t have been as well looked after, especially going into a World Cup year and that counts for a lot especially when you have big aspirations with Ireland as well.”