The 27-year-old has had a torrid time of injuries over the last few years, enduring knee, ankle, finger and cheekbone problems since injury cut short his 2009 British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

But Ferris has pointed to O’Driscoll, who recently returned for Leinster, as the example to follow.

“You look at somebody like Brian, he has had a list of injuries that is longer than mine and every time he has come back better,” Ferris told the Irish Independent.

“Against Edinburgh, when he came back he said to me he was a bit rusty, but they scored five tries in Murrayfield. You look up to somebody like that, you look at him coming back better and you want to do the same.

“The same guy operated on his ankle as did mine, if it's as good a job as he did on Brian's then hopefully I can come back early too.”