ODriscoll sustained a hamstring injury while on Heineken Cup duty for Leinster earlier this month and despite being back on the training field he has yet to be given the all-clear to resume playing.

Reggie Corrigan, Anthony Foley, David Humphreys, Paul OConnell and Ronan OGara have been selected as vice-captains of a 34-strong squad which will take part in a five-day training camp in Dublin next week.

Coach Eddie OSullivan will whittle down his party to 22 next Thursday while the team to play France in the Six Nations opener at the Stade de France will be named on Tuesday, February 10.

Forwards (17): Simon Best (Ulster Belfast Harlequins), Shane Byrne (Leinster Blackrock College), Reggie Corrigan (Leinster Greystones), Victor Costello (Leinster St. Marys College), Simon Easterby (Llanelli), Anthony Foley (Munster Shannon), Keith Gleeson (Leinster St. Marys College), John Hayes (Munster Shannon), Marcus Horan (Munster Shannon), Bernard Jackman (Connacht Clontarf), Gary Longwell (Ulster Ballymena), Eric Miller (Leinster Terenure College), Donncha OCallaghan (Munster Cork Constitution), Paul OConnell (Munster Young Munster), Malcolm OKelly (Leinster St. Marys College), Frank Sheahan (Munster Cork Constitution), David Wallace (Munster Garryowen).

Backs (17): Paul Burke (Harlequins), Gordon Darcy (Leinster Lansdowne), Girvan Dempsey (Leinster Terenure College), Neil Doak (Ulster Belfast Harlequins), Gavin Duffy (Harlequins), Guy Easterby (Rotherham), Rob Henderson (Munster Garryowen), Anthony Horgan (Munster Cork Constitution), Shane Horgan (Leinster Shannon), Tyrone Howe (Ulster Dungannon), David Humphreys (Ulster Dungannon), John Kelly (Munster Cork Constitution), Kevin Maggs (Bath), Brian ODriscoll (Leinster Blackrock College), Mike Mullins (Munster Old Crescent), Ronan OGara (Munster Cork Constitution), Peter Stringer (Munster Shannon).