Leinster call on reserves

Celtic League previews: Leinster continue to be bedevilled by injury and illness, John McWeeney (bruised knee) and Gavin Hickie…

Celtic League previews: Leinster continue to be bedevilled by injury and illness, John McWeeney (bruised knee) and Gavin Hickie (flu) withdrawing from the team while Brian O'Riordan has cried off the replacements. A vacancy has been left on the right wing, to be filled probably by Peter McKenna.

UCD hooker David Blaney replaces Hickie and making it a memorable family occasion for the Blaneys is the promotion of his younger brother Brian to the replacements. O'Riordan's absence ensures a second tour of bench duty for Lansdowne scrumhalf Shane Whelan.

Glasgow in contrast welcome back Sam Pinder following an eight-week spell on the sideline with injury. He displaces Kenny Sinclair. Glasgow show three other changes in personnel as well as two positional switches to the team beaten 26-10 by Munster at Musgrave Park last weekend. Alan Bulloch returns at inside centre in a shuffled three-quarter line, while Nathan Ross and Scott Lawson are back in the pack. Graeme Morrison switches to his more accustomed role at outside centre, and Sean Lamont transfers to the right wing in place of Jon Steel.

Leinster's victory over Borders in Scotland last weekend was largely due to Brian O'Meara's place-kicking (21 points). It's a fairly important game as the combatants lie second (Glasgow) and third (Leinster) from bottom of the Celtic League standings.

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Shane Jennings proved a very capable captain last week and will be hoping to hang on to his unbeaten record. Leinster have displayed character in their last two games, both wins, but, pared to the bare bones, might find tonight's task beyond them.

GLASGOW: S Moffat; S Lamont, G Morrison, A Bulloch, R Kerr; D Parks, S Pinder; E Murray, S Lawson, L Harrison, A Hall, N Ross, R Reid, P Dearlove (capt), D Macfadyen.

LEINSTER: G D'Arcy; J McWeeney, J Downey, D Quinlan, G Brown; M Leek, B O'Meara; E Byrne, D Blaney, P Coyle, A Kearney, B Gissing, N Breslin, D Dillon, S Jennings (capt).

Referee: N Owens (Wales).

Last match: Glasgow lost 26-10 (a) to Munster; Leinster beat Borders (a) 26-21.

Leading points scorer: Glasgow - Daniel Parks 20; Leinster - Brian O'Meara 52.

Verdict: Glasgow.

GlasgowvLeinster Hughenden,7.30

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan is an Irish Times sports writer