But he has been recalled to the starting line up for tomorrow night's RaboDirect PRO12 match against the Ospreys as Ulster, currently fourth, look to close the gap on leaders Munster.
It is the club's first game since securing a European Cup home quarter-final via victory over Leicester Tigers on January 17.
But Doyle, who made the most of the break to travel back home to Australia, revealed thoughts are now on pushing up the table as well as furthering his own chances.
"It's an opportunity to have a go all right," Doyle told the Belfast Telegraph.
"But if you don't deliver there are plenty of other guys who can step up and take their chance.
"At the moment I've just got to do a good job in this game and that's what I've been concentrating on.
"We've put ourselves in a very good position (in the RaboDirect PRO12) so it would be silly not to go further and make a good job of it.
"The Heineken is in the background now, we're in a good spot and we've got four games to get four wins."
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