Very unfortunate to miss the 2001 Lions tour having succumbed to injury in the lead-up to selection, Hickie is just about the complete winger.

Yet as with his potential Lions call four years ago, his fitness has all too often been a problem and is the reason why the hugely-talented Leinster man has won only 51 caps in eight international years.

Accentuating the positives, Hickie claims the frequent injury breaks have helped him in the long run as he has been able to hone aspects of his game such as his defence yet it must be frustrating for a man of his ability to have suffered so many setbacks.

Having made a try-scoring Ireland debut against Wales in 1997, Hickie was cast into the international wilderness after breaking his jaw in South Africa the following year.

But a return to form with Leinster in 2000 saw him recalled for the Six Nations of that year and he has been a regular in the squad (fitness permitting) ever since, averaging a try every two games.

A skilful runner with brilliant pace and the ability to burst through the smallest gaps, Hickie - a winner of the Triple Crown with Ireland Schools - is just about in his rugby prime and is only a couple of tries behind Brian O'Driscoll in the Irish record books.