Michael Cheika has Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll back in his squad ahead of Friday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Clermont Auvergne at the RDS. A one-point win at Thomond Park on Friday was the perfect fillip for his side ahead of the meeting with the the French side and there was further good news this afternoon when O’Driscoll was joined in an extended squad by Shane Horgan and Kevin McLaughlin.
In total, there are 15 Ireland internationals named, and Cheika insists the hitherto injured trio will have a role to play.
"We'd be confident that all of them will play," said the Australian. "Brian did some training over the weekend as did Kevin, while Shane will train today (Monday), although he has been doing some off-field stuff. We're taking an extra precaution to get him right for this week, and he'd be pretty confident as well, so there should be no problem there.
"Shane's an experienced player, but it doesn't mean it's an automatic entry because the lads have been playing very well. Girvan (Dempsey) has been playing out of his skin while Kearney's playing well, so it's going to come down to selection. But the fact that he's available for us, all going well this week, will make a lot of difference to the make up of the team."
The return of Horgan and O’Driscoll brings a wealth of experience and means youngster Eoin O’Malley misses out, though scrumhalf Paul O’Donohoe and centre Fergus McFadden remain in the squad.
McLaughlin will add to the possibilities in the backrow and joins Jamie Heaslip, Stephen Keogh and Shane Jennings in the squad. Lock Nathan Hines, who lined out on the blindside against Munster, is also named.
Clermont’s preparation has been nothing like Leinster’s after they lost 19-10 to Stade Francais in Paris at the weekend.
Vern Cotter’s side conceded three first-half tries but Cheika won't be dwelling on that too much as he focuses on the "biggest battle of our season so far".
"When you come into the last week before the match what you're looking for is confirmation of the things you've seen (of them) on tape, which we got. It was a good physical match (against Stade Français) so we were able to confirm some bigger picture issues.
"They didn't win the game, but if you look at their performances over the entire season is they're a pack of power. They have some unbelievable threats that we're going to have to deal with, as well as a really strong defence and an excellent kicking game, and they're very complete.
"As far as their position in the French league is concerned, two of the teams ahead of them aren't playing in Europe so the teams that are having to fight on two fronts are managing quite well, of which Clermont is probably top of the pack."
Friday’s game is expected to be a sell-out of the of the RDS’ increased capacity of nearly 20,000.
Leinster squad (v Clermont Auvergne)
Forwards:Leo Cullen, John Fogarty, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Nathan Hines, Bernard Jackman, Shane Jennings, Stephen Keogh, Kevin McLaughlin, Malcolm O'Kelly, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, CJ van der Linde, Stan Wright
Backs:Shaun Berne, Gordon D'Arcy, Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Rob Kearney, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa, Paul O'Donohoe, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton