In his absence, Ulster have wrapped up top spot in the Heineken Cup pool however and remain top of the RaboDirect PRO12 table while Ferris is hopeful of making a return to action during the Six Nations.
And Ferris revealed that watching O'Driscoll make his return for Leinster recently has given him added motivation to follow suit.
"You look at somebody like Brian, he has had a list of injuries that is longer than mine and every time he has come back better," Ferris told the Irish Independent.
"Against Edinburgh, when he came back he said to me he was a bit rusty, but they scored five tries in Murrayfield. You look up to somebody like that, you look at him coming back better and you want to do the same.
"The same guy operated on his ankle as did mine, if it's as good a job as he did on Brian's then hopefully I can come back early too."
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