Leinster must perform in absence of big names

Celtic League/Leinster v Glasgow Donnybrook, 7

Celtic League/Leinster v Glasgow Donnybrook, 7.30: Leinster coach Michael Cheika will be looking for several senior players to produce efforts commensurate with their ability. Last weekend Felipe Contepomi rescued his team with an outstanding individual display but the province won't have that luxury this evening, as the Argentinian is on international duty at Twickenham.

Rob Kearney returns following a hamstring injury, Gary Brown the player unlucky to have to make way. The Blackrock College man took his try brilliantly last weekend and might have been accommodated in the centre, with Kieran Lewis shifting to the inside role, where he'll play for Ireland A against Australia next Wednesday.

Instead Cheika has elected to go with Michael Berne in the number 12 jersey, hoping the Australian justifies his selection as Contepomi's deputy.

Christian Warner will have a new halfback partner in Wallaby international Chris Whitaker, who has recovered from a shoulder problem. Cillian Willis, who has done well in Whitaker's absence, drops to the bench.

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Up front, Trevor Hogan has recovered from a calf injury sustained in the warm-up for the Edinburgh game and replaces the suspended Owen Finegan in the second row. Devin Toner retains his place. The side will be captained for the first time by number eight Jamie Heaslip.

Glasgow Warriors travel to Dublin looking for the their first win over Leinster in four years.

The Scottish side are without five players on international duty: John Beattie, Scott Lawson, Euan Murray, Francisco Leonelli (Argentina) and Justin Va'a (Pacific Islands).

James Eddie (ankle), Donnie Macfadyen (thigh), Sean Marsden (hamstring), Mike Roberts (knee and jaw) and Colin Shaw (ankle) are unavailable through injury.

Coach and former Scotland international centre Sean Lineen admitted: "We have to take advantage of the fact that we still have a number of our senior internationalists with us. These guys have a point to prove and we're going over there to make a statement.

"Our previous results against Leinster have always been very close, just a point or two difference sometimes, so we need to go across and show what we can do."

Winger Thom Evans returns and there is a first start for prop Moray Low. Canadian prop Kevin Tkachuk remains with the squad for this game before travelling with Canada as they prepare to take on Wales next week.

For Leinster this game is about performing the basics to the requisite level and providing a platform for a young but richly talented back line. They are good enough but they need to prove that over 80 minutes.

LEINSTER: L Fitzgerald; R Kearney, K Lewis, M Berne, D Hickie; C Warner, C Whitaker; R McCormack, B Blaney, F Pala'amo; T Hogan, D Toner; S Keogh, K Gleeson, J Heaslip (capt). Replacements: R Corrigan, H Vermaas, A Byrnes, N Ronan, C Willis, A Dunne, G Brown.

GLASGOW WARRIORS: R Lamont; H O'Hare, G Morrison, A Henderson, T Evans; D Parks, G Beveridge; K Tkachuk, F Thomson, M Low; A Newman, A Kellock (capt); A Wilson, J Barclay, J Petrie. Replacements: E Milligan, B Prescott, D Turner, S Swindall, S Pinder, C Gregor, S Barrow.

Referee: J Jones (Wales).

Recent meetings: April 2005, Hughenden - Leinster 30 Glasgow 23. September 2005, Donnybrook - Leinster 26 Glasgow 21. May 2006, Firhill - Leinster 21 Glasgow 18.

Leading points scorers: Leinster - Felipe Contepomi 80. Glasgow - Dan Parks 67.

Leading try scorers: Leinster - Denis Hickie 3. Glasgow - Graeme Morrison, Dan Parks 2 each.

Verdict: Leinster to win.

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan is an Irish Times sports writer