Just over two months ago, the Leinster centre, as skipper of the 2005 Lions, sustained the injury in the first Test against the All Blacks.

Following surgery last month and the initial stages of a rehabilitation programme, O'Driscoll is now in a position to plot his immediate future.

And while Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan remains ''hopeful'' of his playmaker recovering in time to play a part in November's Tests against New Zealand, Australia and Romania, O'Driscoll refused to be drawn on any probable dates for his return.

''The timing of my comeback is not really an issue for me at the moment,'' said O'Driscoll as he was announced as successor to Reggie Corrigan as Leinster captain for the coming season.

''It's only been six weeks since my operation, and I can only take each week as it comes. The improvement can be in a week or 24 hours so I'm just setting myself little targets. November is a long time away yet.''

The 26-year-old did admit to being ''really happy'' with his shoulder rehab so far - even confirming himself ''a little bit ahead of schedule''.

He said: ''It's coming along really well.

''It's a long process, but I'm a little bit ahead of schedule if there is such a thing with shoulder rehab.

''There's no miracle cure for it. You just have to keep working hard to get it right, and keep listening to the physios.

''I have to keep myself in the best possible shape because there's no point in me getting super fit now and peaking for October when I'm not going to be playing.

''So it's a gradual process. But it's coming along well, and I'm really happy with my progress.''

O'Driscoll, chosen by recently-arrived Leinster coach Michael Cheika as the club's captain for 2005-06, is looking forward to his role at Leinster, despite being at least two months away from returning to pitchside.

''It's an element of captaincy that I haven't yet experienced - the day-to-day leading of a team.

''Whenever I've captained a team before, it's been coming in for small periods of time. But this is a year-long job.

I've to think about it the whole time and when I do come back from international duty I'll have that responsibility again.

''I think it's something that I have to prove to myself, and the rest of the Leinster squad, that it's something I'm capable of doing.''