Back row Quinlan was forced to leave the field with a broken nose during Munster's 32-17 defeat to Celtic League champions Llanelli Scarlets, while hooker Sheahan did not even make the starting line-up after withdrawing with a calf strain.

Sheahan is considered a rising star of the game and is expected to challenge current first choice Shane Byrne for the number 2 jersey as Ireland look for their first championship in 20 years.

Quinlan's international career has been plagued by injury and he will be hoping this latest setback does not scupper his chances of breaking into O'Sullivan's first-choice XV.

His withdrawl from Saturday's game seemed to knock the wind out of Munster after he had set up one and scored the other of their two tries.

Fellow international Peter Stringer was the beneficiary of his good line-out work in the first half, before the flanker touched down under the posts himself early in the second.

O'Sullivan's first choice fly-half Ronan O'Gara came through his first match for a month unscathed, and proved his kicking game was in good order ahead of the Italy clash by converting both tries and a penalty.

Munster fielded no fewer than nine of Ireland's RBS 6 Nations squad.