LONDON IRISH's desire to land a marquee Irish player could see them enter the market for Keith Earls as the IRFU look to tie up the Munster winger's contract.

The 26-year-old utility back had put his future on the back burner before Christmas as he looked to return from injury, but with the Union hoping to secure all of their remaining out-of-contract players before the Six Nations, the Limerick native is now assessing his options.

Troubled Australian star James O'Connor is set to leave London Irish for Toulon at the end of the season and Earls (right) fits the profile for a replacement, given the club's ambition to land more Irish talent.

Whether they can convince Earls to leave his home province remains to be seen and the likelihood remains that he will stay with Munster, with the World Cup less than two years away.

Irish missed out on Earls' Munster and Ireland team-mate Donnacha Ryan last month as he committed to the province for a further three years.

The English club was taken over by Cavan businessman Mick Crossan last month and the new regime want to build the Exiles into a fifth province by signing more Irish-based players.

They already have Ian Humphreys, Eamonn Sheridan, Jamie Hagan and Tomas O'Leary on their books, but the addition of Earls would give them the frontline Ireland star they crave -- the French interest in Jamie Heaslip and Sean O'Brien has priced the Lions back-row duo out of the market.

The Premiership strugglers could also be interested in Leinster's Dave Kearney, with the Ireland winger in negotiations over a new deal.

Irish Independent