Joe Schmidt says Jonathan Sexton should be fit for the games against Australia and New Zealand later this month.

The Racing Metro out half misses tomorrow's opening Autumn international against Samoa with a hip injury.

But new Irish coach Schmidt said resting him for this weekend means he will be available for the rest of the series.

"We just felt it was pertinent with the accumulation of game-time that he had already, that does start to show signs of wear and tear with his hip flexor and we just thought it was pertinent that we leave him off this weekend. If we look after him now, we are confident that he will come back into the selection mix," said Schmidt.