MAGNERS LEAGUE: HAVING ENDURED a nightmarish time on the sidelines recovering from a fractured forearm, Gordon D'Arcy is poised to finish the year on a high note when Leinster take on Ulster this weekend.
D'Arcy's convalescence from the injury sustained against Italy in the Six Nations has lasted almost 11 months - three operations were required as complications delayed his comeback - but he returns to Michael Cheika's squad for Saturday's Magners League sell-out at Ravenhill.
D'Arcy's availability provides a welcome fillip for Cheika who travels North without Brian O'Driscoll, whose hamstring is afforded another few days' recuperation, and Shane Horgan.
Yet with Felipe Contepomi and Isa Nacewa also back in the frame, and closer to match fitness, it remains to be seen whether D'Arcy will be handed a berth alongside Luke Fitzgerald in the Leinster midfield.
"Nacewa and Contepomi have both made their returns so that gives us - with D'Arcy back - almost a full back-line compliment to choose from and that will be a welcome choice," said Cheika.
"I think the competition for that final back-line spot is going to be a fierce one and that's what we need. The harder the competition within the squad, the more competitive we'll be on the field."
CJ van der Linde is included having recovered from the calf strain that ruled him out of the disappointing Heineken Cup defeat in Castres but Bernard Jackman will miss the festive programme, and potentially January's pivotal European clash with Wasps, after having a knee operation. John Fogarty and Brian Blaney will try to stake their claims for a place in the frontrow in Jackman's absence.
Cheika admitted the players had been hurt by that defeat in France, and also the mauling in the press, but are determined to use that criticism as "fuel" going forward. "They were pretty devastated after it," he conceded. "Not just from losing, but from letting down a lot of people who went for the trip. We really should have played better, even if we didn't have a brilliant game we should have taken that little extra bit and won the game. We've got to make sure the experience adds to our character . . . If we have to use some of the criticism that we've taken as fuel, then we'll do that."
Cheika wants the defending champions to reassert themselves in the Magners League and dismisses the notion his side are out of the running. "We certainly haven't given up any hope in the league," Cheika said. "We'll take Ulster as the first of three big Magners League matches for us. If we keep winning, it puts pressure on the teams ahead of us."
Ulster coach Matt Williams will be without secondrow forwards Ryan Caldwell and Carlo Del Fava while Cillian Willis and Simon Danielli remain on the injured list.
But with Fijian winger Timoci Nagusa recovering from the hamstring problem that curtailed his involvement in Europe, Williams is confident of building on the province's recent run of success.
Meanwhile, Connacht coach Michael Bradley will finalise the side to face Munster after training on St Stephen's Day. Captain John Muldoon is likely to feature in Sunday's televised clash at a sold-out Sportsground (6pm) having recovered from a knee injury.
LEINSTER SQUAD: Forwards(15): Cian Healy, Ronan McCormack, Brian Blaney, John Fogarty, CJ van der Linde, Stan Wright, Trevor Hogan, Devin Toner, Cameron Jowitt, Malcolm O'Kelly, Rocky Elsom, Stephen Keogh, Shane Jennings, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip Backs(10): Chris Keane, Chris Whitaker, Isa Nacewa, Jonathan Sexton, Rob Kearney, Simon Keogh, Felipe Contepomi, Gordon D'Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald, Girvan Dempsey.
