Dan Biggar will line up for Wales against Ireland on Saturday – helped by repeated sessions in an oxygen therapy unit watching the American legal drama series Suits.

Ospreys fly-half Biggar has made a quicker-than-expected recovery from a shoulder injury suffered while on European Champions Cup duty last month.

Wales v Australia – Autumn International – Principality Stadium
Wales fly-half Dan Biggar will return to Test match against Ireland on Saturday. (Mike Egerton/PA)

Biggar sat out Wales’ opening NatWest 6 Nations appointments with Scotland and England, but he now returns for a key head-to-head with his fellow British and Irish Lion Johnny Sexton as both teams look to stay firmly in title contention.

“I’ve been in what quite a few of the boys go in – it’s sort of an oxygen chamber to speed up recovery,” Biggar said.

“I did 10 days on the bounce, and they (sessions) are about an hour-and-a-half each. So it was pretty boring.

“My ipad was fully stacked with things to watch, but it was pretty monotonous day in, day out but it was for the greater cause.

“Even if it gave one per cent extra in terms of recovery, it was worth it. Basically, you just sit there, you have a mask on and not much goes on in there.

“I finished off Suits, season seven. I’ve just had a baby, so I don’t get much chance to watch box sets any more, so it was nice to get a bit of piece and quiet in there!”

Biggar played the role of spectator as Wales got their Six Nations campaign under way, and Ireland’s narrow victory over France in Paris did not escape his attention either – particularly Sexton’s spectacular match-winning drop-goal.

Biggar sent the Ireland playmaker a message to congratulate him on his 45-metre strike, fully understanding the magnitude of a kick delivered amid intense pressure.

“I like Johnny a lot,” he added. “He has that streak in him, which is nice to see, where he knows exactly what he wants. He dictates play.

“And in the summer (on the Lions tour), he was really good, where you could pick his brain. He has got a great work ethic too, and he’s very similar to myself in terms of personality – a real drive and will to win.

“I may drop him a line before the game, but hopefully we will have a good catch-up on Saturday – after I’ve finished on the winning side!

“I texted him after the France game and said it was some kick, to be fair. You could only applaud it, because they were running out of ideas a little bit and he took it on himself to step up. And it was a huge moment for them.

“He said he’d had about a million texts after that game! But he did say he appreciated it, and said he hoped I would be back fit for Dublin. So that was an aim of mine, to get back for this game.”

A Wales victory at the Aviva Stadium would keep them firmly in the mix for Six Nations silverware ahead of home games against Italy and France next month.

“We’ve got a good record against Ireland, but we are fully aware that it’s going to be a huge, huge challenge,” Biggar said.

“If you lose, it’s going to be very difficult to finish on top in the tournament, but if you win, you’ve got two home games to come against Italy and France and you have set yourself up incredibly well. That is the biggest carrot for us.”