O’Driscoll to start against Munster

Having served his suspension for stamping, Brian O'Driscoll is set for his first appearance in a blue shirt of Leinster since January when Joe Schmidt’s side travel to Limerick to take on Munster tomorrow evening.

The Ireland centre has not featured for his province since the final round of the Heineken Cup against Exeter but returns alongside his old comrade-in-arms Gordon D’Arcy for the match at Thomond Park.

The match comes too soon for Jonathan Sexton, however, with Ian Madigan retaining the outhalf jersey as Sexton continues to nurse a foot injury.

O’Driscoll replaces Fergus McFadden, who picked up a calf strain against Wasps in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals last weekend, in the only change to the backline.

Up front, Sean Cronin is preferred to Richardt Strauss at hooker while Quinn Roux comes into the second row with Devin Toner dropping to the replacements bench. The final change sees Shane Jennings start in a rejigged backrow with Sean O’Brien moving to the blindside and Kevin McLaughlin making way.

Munster coach Rob Penney will not risk Keith Earls tomorrow, with the versatile back not even making the bench. Earls has been out of action since suffering a shoulder injury in the Six Nations clash with Italy last month but despite training with the rest of the squad this week will have to sit out the match.

Penney has made four changes from the side that stormed the Stoop last Sunday, with Ian Keatley replacing Ronan O'Gara at number 10. In the pack, Donncha O’Callaghan, Damien Varley and Stephen Archer all start.

Munster: F Jones; D Hurley, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; I Keatley, C Murray; D Kilcoyne , D Varley, S Archer; Donncha O’Callaghan, P O’Connell capt; P O’Mahony, T O’Donnell , J Coughlan. Replacements: M Sherry, J Cronin, BJ Botha, B Holland, Dave O’Callaghan, C Sheridan, I Dineen.

Leinster: R Kearney; D Kearney, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, I Nacewa; I Madigan, I Boss; C Healy, S Cronin, M Ross; L Cullen, Q Roux; S O'Brien, S Jennings, J Heaslip. Replacements: R Strauss, J McGrath, M Bent, D Toner, K McLaughlin, J Cooney, A Goodman, A Conway.