Magners League – Squad News:Michael Cheika confirmed the Ireland quartet of Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, Eoin Reddan and Jonathan Sexton will all feature in Saturday's Magners League game against the Scarlets at the RDS (6.30pm) as the Europeans champions look to close-in on Glasgow's lead at the top.
The Leinster international quartet travelled to Paris for the French game but all the replacements returned to their provinces for this weekend’s Magners League fixtures, while the Ireland starting XV came together for a short camp in Cork this week.
There is a familiarity between the two sides as this will be their fourth fixture this season with the Scarlets winning the Magners League encounter early in the season but Leinster won the two Heineken Cup pool games.
Cheika appears pleased with the players he has available to him, and though he has respect for Saturday’s opposition, he will be looking for a win to progress up the table.
"The only player who is a long term doubt is Luke Fitzgerald and he wouldn't have been in the national team anyway, so it is probably about a good a compliment as we could have at this stage of the season,” said Cheika. “Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, Shane Jennings, Eoin Reddan and Jonathan Sexton will all be involved (this weekend).
Cheika also has the experienced trio of Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan and Shane Jennings available to him, plus Shaun Berne, Isa Nacewa, Stan Wright and CJ van der Linde.
Fullback Andrew Conway is named in the extended panel having impressed for the Ireland Under-20's in recent weeks. Meanwhile, David Kearney, Eoin O'Malley and Eoin Sheriff are included in the panel after impressing in last weekend's 22-10 British and Irish Cup victory over the Exeter Chiefs.
"If you look at this Magners League run and the way we try to plan it out, obviously it is not the situation we thought we would be in exactly, but we are still close enough to the top - all things going well by the end of these games - to get into the top two,” he added. Leinster are currently tied with Munster on 26 points, five off Glasgow’s lead but with a game in hand on the leaders.
"A top four place is our target at this stage because we have to be realistic about the players we are missing etc. I think an individual approach to this game is what's needed because every step now is a step closer to the semi-finals. They are quite tangible now, we have played nine games but the split will come now. If you keep accumulating the points, each week is kinda broken, but getting the points each week will get you to the stage.
"After this game we have Cardiff away, Glasgow at home and then Connacht away and they are all important games for us in (terms of) getting there. It is good to be at home too because we haven't played together for a while.
“The competition gives a chance to guys like Eoin O'Malley and Dave Kearney to play alongside the likes of Girv' (Dempsey) which can only be a good thing,” added Cheika, who will finalise his team on Friday lunchtime.
Over 13,000 tickets have now been sold for the game with tickets on sale from www.leinsterrugby.ie and from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide. They can also be purchased in Donnybrook from Spar and the Leinster Rugby Store and tickets will be available outside the RDS from 3pm on Saturday.
CONNACHT RUGBYalso announced ticket details ahead of their Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final against Bourgoin at the Sportsground on Saturday, April 10th.
Tickets will cost €25 but match tickets will available to season ticket holders and regular supporters at reduced rates. Season ticket holders will be able to buy reduced price tickets up to March 3rd.
Each season ticket holder is entitled to buy a maximum of five tickets at €20 each for adults. Family season ticket holders can buy one family ticket and one ground ticket or five single tickets.
Ticket prices for season ticket holders as follows: Ground Tickets: €20, Concession: €15 (OAP, Student), Child: (up to 18yrs) €10, Family: €50
Leinster Squad (v Scarlets)
Forwards: John Fogarty, Trevor Hogan, Bernard Jackman, Shane Jennings, Stephen Keogh, Ronan McCormack, Kevin McLaughlin, Sean O'Brien, Malcolm O'Kelly, Mike Ross, Paul Ryan, Eoin Sheriff, Richardt Strauss, Devin Toner, CJ van der Linde, Stan Wright
Backs: Shaun Berne, Andrew Conway, Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Chris Keane, David Kearney, Simon Keogh, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa, Paul O'Donohoe, Eoin O'Malley, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton