Ireland out-half Johnny Sexton will follow a graduated return to action this week as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.

Ireland team manager Michael Kearney says that the player has hit all of his targets so far as he attempts to prove his fitness ahead of Saturday's trip to Cardiff.

Jamie Heaslip, Jared Payne and Sean O'Brien also appear to be on track to prove their fitness.

However, Gordon D'Arcy's international future was thrown into doubt as the long-time Ireland centre was left out of the 36-man panel, with Kearney describing it as a "selection issue".

Meanwhile, Joe Schmidt has also added three extra forwards to that panel.

Leinster props Michael Bent and Tadhg Furlong, and Ulster lock Dan Tuohy have all been drafted in to the squad that will be used for the remaining two matches of this year's Championship.