RUGBY MAGNERS LEAGUE:GORDON D'ARCY'S inclusion in the Leinster squad for Friday night's Magners League clash with the Ospreys at the Liberty stadium was widely touted after the Ireland centre didn't see any game time in last weekend's Six Nations victory over England at Croke Park.

He’ll join fellow internationals Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Bernard Jackman, Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O’Kelly and Shane Jennings in an extended Leinster squad that doesn’t include the injured CJ van der Linde, Ronan McCormack, Leo Cullen or Chris Keane; the latter damaged a knee recently and is likely to be sidelined for six weeks.

That news is offset by the return to fitness of former Australian scrumhalf and Leinster’s interim captain Chris Whitaker, who is likely lead the side in the absence of Cullen. Paul O’Donohoe performed very capably in the province’s victory over the Scarlets but Leinster coach Michael Cheika will probably hand the starting slot to Whitaker.

Underage international Eoin O’Malley has been named but could miss out, depending on Cheika’s preferences for the inside backs. Dempsey, Horgan and Isa Nacewa should form the back three and the Australian must then decide who will partner D’Arcy in midfield.

If Felipe Contepomi is chosen at outhalf then the promising Fergus McFadden would join D’Arcy in midfield. The alternative would be to hand Jonathan Sexton the number 10 jersey with Contepomi starting at inside centre.

The Ospreys are without 12 internationals, including Ireland’s Tommy Bowe, and there isn’t a better time to play them.

That’s not to denigrate some fine young players and several others with Super 14 experience but they are virtually a second string team. Centre Andrew Bishop and Kiwi scrumhalf Jamie Nutbrown are standout players in the context of Friday night.

The Ospreys might reasonably point to their most recent victory over Connacht with pretty much the same team but if Leinster harbour genuine aspirations of retaining their title, they’ll have to win this one.

Leinster’s assistant coach Jonno Gibbes refuses to make any rash pronouncements.

“The Ospreys are a dangerous team to face at any time of year, but even more so when people think they will be weak owing to the number of players who are on international duty with Wales. We know that that is not the case. They could be in a position to bring back players so we are preparing accordingly.

“They are still an experienced team with the likes of (Filo) Tiatia, Filipo Levi and Marty Holah. I’ve played alongside Marty for most of my career and he is an outstanding player. He’s a wonderful exponent of contact ball and will bring a real physicality and maturity, as will Filo. They are two massively important leaders for the Ospreys.

“The top three teams are starting to establish themselves. Certainly it’s a challenge that we won’t be shying away from. The Ospreys are serious performers in their own backyard.”

Gibbes paid tribute to the young players who stepped up in the recent victory over the Scarlets, particularly McFadden and O’Donohoe.

An aside to Leinster’s visit to the Ospreys at the weekend involves two of Ireland’s Under-20 internationals, Ciarán and Rhys Ruddock – sons of former Bective Rangers, Leinster and Wales coach Mike – who performed superbly in Friday night’s 19-18 victory over England at Dubarry Park.

Munster coach Tony McGahan has included Peter Stringer, Mick O’Driscoll and Denis Leamy, the trio released from Ireland training, for Saturday’s trip to the Dragons but there is no place in the 24 man squad for centre Rua Tipoki as he continues his battle with injury.

LEINSTER(squad v Ospreys): C Healy, B Blaney, J Fogarty, Be Jackman, S Knoop, S Wright, T Hogan, D Toner, M O'Kelly, R Elsom, C Jowitt, S Jennings, S O'Brien, S Keogh, K McLaughlin, P O'Donohoe, C Whitaker, F Contepomi, J Sexton, S Keogh, I Nacewa, G D'Arcy, F McFadden, E O'Malley, S Horgan, G Dempsey.

OSPREYS:(v Leinster): G Owen; J Vaughton, S Parker, A Bishop, K Phillips; D Biggar, J Nutbrown; P James (capt), E Shervington, C Griffiths; F Levi, A Lloyd; T Smith, M Holah, F Tiatia. Replacements: M Breeze, C Mitchell, R Pitman, S Tandy, R Wells, J Spratt, D Bishop.

MUNSTER(Squad v Dragons): Denis Hurley; A Horgan, K Lewis, D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, C O'Boyle; P Warwick, J Manning, D Williams, P Stringer; Darragh Hurley, F Pucciariello, M Essex, D Fogarty, T Buckley; M O'Driscoll, D Ryan; D Leamy, N Ronan, A Quinlan, B Holland, T O'Donnell, N Williams.