Connacht's BKT United Rugby Championship match against Dragons will come too soon for Mack Hansen, but the Ireland winger is being pencilled in to face Munster in May.
It had been hoped that Hansen, out of action since dislocating his shoulder against Munster at the start of the year, could feature but the 26-year-old will be given more time to recover.
"There was a best-case scenario where he could have been available for Dragons," Wilkins said on Monday morning.
"The unknown bit is working his way through the return to contact.
"He’s doing all the running and team elements in training in a non-contact bib but it’s the landing on the ground, the breakdown work, the tackle.
"It’s making sure, not just medically he’s good to go but in his own mind as well, he doesn’t feel compromised and suffer any loss of technique through that.
"He’s working really well through that and I’d hope he’ll be available for Munster (on 11 May)."
The Westerners' boss added that they had no major injury concerns following their bonus-point win over the Italians at the Dexcom Stadium but out-half JJ Hanrahan (above) will nurse a hamstring issue with fellow number 10 Jack Carty remaining out with a similar complaint.
"Jack’s certainly going to miss the Dragons game, we’d hope he’d be available thereafter," added Wilkins, who says Byron Ralston is closing in on a return also.
"We’re confident JJ will be fine for this week, he’ll be doing some of the training today and building through the week. There’s no major concerns there."
The Englishman was also positive about the chances of Santiago Cordero featuring before the end of the season. The Argentinian back suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season training and has yet to make his debut.
"He’s still tracking well," said Wilkins of the 30-year-old former Bordeaux and Exeter player.
"There could still be a scenario where he may be involved in the last couple of regular season games and hopefully finals rugby after that.
"We will keep processing what he is doing week to week. He will be involved in some team training this week which will be fantastic for him and us. We will keep a close eye on him over these next two to three weeks."
Inspired by academy scrum-half Matthew Devine (above), Connacht scored eight tries against Zebre and Wilkins wants his team to push on for a play-off place.
"We’re delighted with the win," he said.
"It was important for us to win convincingly. The points difference will be important as we approach the final weeks of the season.
"I was pleased that it didn’t just come from the first whistle, we had to grind it out a bit in that first quarter, playing into a decent wind.
"Zebre fronted up as we knew they would, they were physically and emotionally there in that opening 20 minutes and we had to earn the right to play.
"I was pleased with the patience, not forcing anything when we did have our backs against the wall. And then also equally pleased to accelerate once we got through that period."
Dragons, second from bottom, lost 36-19 away to Benetton at the weekend.
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