Wednesday 25 October 2017 20:11, UK
Ireland face South Africa, Fiji and Argentina this November and head coach Joe Schmidt has some tough calls to make ahead of the international window.
So who's likely to be in and out? And whose place is potentially up in the air?
We take a look at all the various permutations below...
As is the case for almost every country heading into the autumn Tests, injuries often rear their ugly head at this point in the season and Ireland are no exception.
Classy Leinster centre Garry Ringrose is one of the confirmed absentees, with his return from shoulder surgery likely to be in December.
Leinster openside Josh van der Flier and Munster hooker Niall Scannell are late casualties, having suffered ankle and thumb injuries respectively in the opening rounds of the Champions Cup.
Both will be immensely disappointed to miss out having been on the cusp of starting places.
Leinster No 8 Jamie Heaslip will miss his first autumn schedule since November 2007 as his spell on the sidelines with a back injury worryingly extends into its eighth month.
As a trusted lieutenant of Joe Schmidt and wonderful servant of Irish rugby, his absence is sure to be keenly felt.
Another concerning injury absence which, like Heaslip, does not contain a return date as yet is the situation regarding Jared Payne.
The versatile Ulster back has been suffering from headaches since returning from the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, and has yet to line out for the northern province so far this season.
While he may yet make it into Schmidt's squad, it would seem extremely unlikely at this point and his loss is a massive blow, particularly from a defensive viewpoint.
Suspended Ulster pair Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding will not be considered as their court case continues.
Obviously we won't know the answer to this question until Schmidt confirms his squad, but who looks to have done enough to force their way into this plans? Aside from the usual suspects.
One of the most exciting talents in Ireland so far this season has been Ulster wing Jacob Stockdale, who has notched five tries in all competitions so far.
His try-scoring feats only tell half the story though, as he has proved one of the most creative players in the Irish game in 2017/18.
Superb under the high ball, physically imposing, rapid on the ground and intelligent with ball in hand, he sounds a player tailor made for Schmidt.
The 21-year-old only made his debut in June against the USA but looks well placed to claim a starting berth. Keep an eye on him!
Another player to have really stood out from the crowd so far this season has been Munster centre Rory Scannell.
In the likely absence of Payne and Ringrose, Schmidt will be looking for a new partner for Robbie Henshaw and Scannell could be the man.
As well as being robust defensively, his two major weapons are his kicking game off a superb left foot and his ability to step and beat a man.
A second kicking option seems somewhat in vogue since the Lions tour and Scannell's performances have suggested he would not look out of place in the Test arena.
Two other centres who appear to have done enough to make it in are Connacht's Bundee Aki, who became Irish-qualified in October, and Ulster's hugely physical Stuart McCloskey.
Aki has been a star for Connacht over the last three seasons, while McCloskey, who has been somewhat frozen out of the international picture since his debut against England in February 2016, looks back to his rampaging best.
Both Aki and McCloskey sit top of the carries charts in the PRO14 so far this season, at one and two in fact, and that tells you all you need to know about the qualities they could bring.
In terms of forwards, Leinster's Rhys Ruddock and Munster's Tommy O'Donnell have worked tirelessly and would appear to have done enough to be included, particularly with van der Flier's injury and Sean O'Brien's iffy fitness.
Leinster's Jack Conan has perhaps been the most impressive forward in Ireland and looks set to go head to head with CJ Stander for the No 8 position with Heaslip out.
This week brought the surprise confirmation that Munster full-back Simon Zebo will leave the province at the end of the season to join a club in the Top 14, believed to be Racing 92.
In doing so, Zebo appears to have sacrificed his place at the 2019 Rugby World Cup with Schmidt reluctant to pick players overseas, as the likes of Ian Madigan, Marty Moore and Donnacha Ryan have discovered.
The conundrum facing Schmidt then, is what to do with Zebo for the rest of this campaign? Do you continue to pick him due to the fact he is one of the most talented backs in Ireland? Or do you leave him out and plan for the World Cup?
His involvement or lack of it throughout November will be fascinating to watch. With Rob Kearney struggling for fitness and Zebo out the door in under a year's time, the full-back slot now looks wide open for somebody in green to come and make their own.
Another player whose potential involvement is yet unclear is Ulster wing Andrew Trimble.
This time last year Trimble would have been one of the first names on Schmidt's teamsheet, but the 33-year-old was not picked on the summer tour, has featured fleetingly this season and has yet to reach the heights he has done in the past.
With a number of young back-three players coming through, will Trimble be afforded a place in Schmidt's squad?
A similar issue faces his Ulster teammate Tommy Bowe. Like Trimble, Bowe is still centrally contracted by the IRFU, but lost his place in the starting Ireland XV last season.
While he has shown signs of revival, the 33-year-old has not put a consistent run of form together in some time and whether Schmidt extends his loyalty to him for this latest squad is yet to be determined.
Elsewhere, Munster tighthead prop Stephen Archer was trusted with the starting 3 shirt for their Champions Cup clashes with Castres and Racing 92 in recent weeks over John Ryan. Could he earn his first call-up since November 2014 or must he show more?
Leinster wing Barry Daly and Munster's Darren Sweetnam have shown flashes of brilliance, but Sweetnam was ignored by Schmidt for the whole of last season despite eye-catching displays while Daly has only just broken into the Leinster team.
Ulster's Chris Henry hasn't played for Ireland since the last World Cup in 2015 and looks unlikely to gain a recall.
Potential Ireland squad:
Forwards: Rory Best, Sean Cronin, James Tracy; Jack McGrath, Cian Healy, Dave Kilcoyne; Tadhg Furlong, John Ryan, Finley Bealham; Devin Toner, Iain Henderson, Ultan Dillane, James Ryan, Kieran Treadwell; Peter O'Mahony, Rhys Ruddock, Sean O'Brien, Tommy O'Donnell, Dan Leavy, Jack Conor, CJ Stander.
Backs: Conor Murray, Kieran Marmion, Luke McGrath, John Cooney; Johnny Sexton, Joey Carbery, Ian Keatley; Robbie Henshaw, Rory Scannell, Luke Marshall, Bundee Aki, Stuart McCloskey; Keith Earls, Jacob Stockdale, Andrew Conway, Andrew Trimble, Darren Sweetnam, Simon Zebo.
