Leo Cullen to start for Leinster against Scarlets

Leo Cullen will make his first appearance of the season for Leinster having been named in the starting line-up for tomorrow night's Rabo Pro12 meeting with the Scarlets.

Cullen has yet to play a single minute for the province this term due to an Achilles injury but proved his fitness in training this week and will partner Mike McCarthy in the Leinster second row.

Gordon D’Arcy will be pressed straight back into action by O’Connor against the Welsh side.

D'Arcy is the only player who started last Sunday's Ireland international against New Zealand deployed from the outset by Leinster coach Matt O'Connor although Luke Fitzgerald, Ian Madigan, Jack McGrath and McCarthy – all replacements at the Aviva Stadium – are also involved from the off.

While the likes of Brian O'Driscoll, Rob Kearney, Cian Healy and Sean O'Brien have been afforded the weekend off to nurse bruised bodies after the November internationals, Mike Ross has been named in the matchday squad for tomorrow's match at the RDS.

Madigan comes in ahead of Jimmy Gopperth at outhalf, with O'Connor giving him the opportunity to stake his claim on the number 10 jersey ahead of the back-to-back Heineken Cup meetings with Northampton.

Leinster: Zane Kirchner; Lote Tuqiri, Brendan Macken, Gordon D’Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Ian Madigan, Eoin Reddan; Jack McGrath, Aaron Dundon, Martin Moore; Leo Cullen, Mike McCarthy; Rhys Ruddock, Shane Jennings (Capt), Jordi Murphy. Replacements: Sean Cronin, Michael Bent, Mike Ross, Tom Denton, Dominic Ryan, Luke McGrath, Jimmy Gopperth, Darragh Fanning.