Leinster's squad have taken on something of a skeletal appearance ahead of tomorrow night's Magners Celtic League clash against Edinburgh at Donnybrook. Quite apart from the absence of their international contingent, coach Michael Cheika's preparations were further hampered by injuries to Luke Fitzgerald, Keith Gleeson, Cameron Jowitt, Ross McCarron and Malcolm O'Kelly.
Fitzgerald hasn't recovered from a neck injury sustained in the victory over Llanelli while Gleeson damaged his shoulder playing for Ireland in the A international against England last Friday night. Jowitt and McCarron both picked up minor knocks that unfortunately deny both players the opportunity the press claims for squad places.
O'Kelly's knee problem is not as bad as first thought. Cheika explained: "Malcolm O'Kelly has still got a problem with his knee. Contrary to what's been said out there, he has not got a chronic knee problem or anything like that. Mal picked up a knee injury before the Gloucester game. He thought he would be able to get through that game but he came off just after half-time.
"He's not been able to get it right since and had a fair bit of pain. There's no ligament damage or anything like that. There's some treatment that he's going to take this week so that he can hopefully pick up training again. Then it is just going to be a matter of giving him a bit of a break and trying to get him fit for the games coming up in March and April."
Speaking of forward issues, the Australian confirmed he had spoken to both Peter Bracken and Ray Hogan, prior to the Irish A internationals making their respective decisions to join Bristol next season. Cheika offered the pair an opportunity to join the Leinster set-up - Ray Hogan could have linked with his brother Trevor - but the players elected to join the English West Country club.
The Edinburgh game represents a fourth meeting this season between the teams with the Scottish side currently leading 2-1. Cheika wasn't sure yesterday of the likely composition of the visiting team. Edinburgh are a privately owned concern so they don't necessarily have to rest their Scottish internationals.
The Leinster coach admitted: "When you do get to play against a team - it'll be the fourth time we have played against them - the coach will be looking to do a few things differently to what they normally do but there will be a good knowledge of the players.
"It is a very important fixture in the context of the league. In the next round we have a bye so we have to try and extend our lead if possible. They are running third at the moment with a game in hand."
Australian World Cup winner Owen Finegan has undergone the "joys" of some intensive training drills over the past fortnight and he outlined the specifics that Leinster have been looking to address.
"We haven't really had a chance to rest (while the Six Nations matches have been on). Michael has had us training the whole way through. It's (this match) a perfect opportunity for younger blokes to step up to the mark.
"Defensively, we have done a lot of work. It's something we're looking forward to improving as a team. The way we can step our game up over the next few months is upping the ante in terms of defence. We have also worked on kick-offs."
Cheika is using this game to promote a couple of academy backs in Fionn Carr and Fergus McFadden to the match squad. Carr, a former Ireland Under-21 international, is currently paying All-Ireland League with Blackrock, while McFadden impressed in the recent A match against Munster.
LEINSTER (squad v Edinburgh): S Wright, R Corrigan, R McCormack, W Green, H Vermaas, B Jackman, B Blaney, A Byrnes, O Finegan, T Hogan, D Toner, S Keogh, R Leyden, N Ronan, K McLaughlin, J Heaslip, C Whitaker, G Easterby, F Contepomi, J Sexton, C Warner, M Berne, K Lewis, G Brown, F Carr, F McFadden, R Kearney.
