Connacht v Leinster:TIME WAS, back in the 90s, when the Sportsground was Leinster's bogey venue. Murrayfield has long since assumed that mantle, so perhaps it's appropriate Michael Cheika's team return to Galway and remind themselves how they overcame their former jinx before facing into their pivotal European opener six days hence.
That said, it's extraordinary that the League organisers fixed this game for a Sunday evening prior to the opening weekend of the European Cup. Leinster will have a six-day turnaround before facing Edinburgh away.
Connacht have been dealt an even worse hand; they have to play a Challenge Cup match away to in-form Dax next Friday.
"It doesn't suit us and it doesn't suit Leinster either," admitted Michael Bradley, "and it wouldn't have taken an awful lot of imagination to manage the fixtures a little better."
Cheika and Bradley have been left with no option but to juggle resources. Leinster make eight changes, Rob Kearney, Simon Keogh, ex-Connacht scrumhalf Chris Keane, Stan Wright, John Fogarty (making his first Leinster start on his old stamping ground), Devin Toner, Seán O'Brien and Stephen Keogh coming in for Girvan Dempsey, Brian O'Driscoll, Chris Whitaker, Ronnie McCormack, Bernard Jackman, Malcolm O'Kelly, Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip.
For Simon Keogh, it is his first game since rejoining Leinster from Harlequins. Seven products of Leinster's academy make the 22 and in an interesting positional switch, one of them, Luke Fitzgerald, moves to outside centre alongside Felipe Contepomi, who becomes the first foreigner to play 100 games for Leinster.
In his 99 appearances to date, Contepomi has scored 1,043 points (31 tries, 156 conversions, two drop goals, 190 penalties). He is the first Leinster player to score 1,000 points and the 14th to reach the century in caps.
"When I first signed for Leinster back in 2003 I could never have known that I would reach 100 caps," says the popular Puma. "It is a huge honour for me to do so because playing for Leinster means a lot to me. I would like to dedicate this achievement to my family and would also like to thank all my team-mates, coaches and all the supporters over the last five years for giving me the opportunity to play to my best for this fantastic club."
Bradley makes nine changes from the team given a severe case of the Blues last weekend. Gavin Duffy and Keith Matthews return from injury to form a midfield partnership outside Ian Keatley, which should make them less porous than in Cardiff.
Liam Bibo returns to the wing. Brett Wilkinson and Ronan Loughney pack down either side of Seán Cronin in a new frontrow. Michael McCarthy and Andrew Farley return at lock. Andy Dunne (hamstring), Adrian Flavin (ribs), Ray Ofisa (shoulder) and Conor O'Loughlin (hip) are ruled out.
Rather than a wielding of the axe, this is part of rotational policy in face of a four-game sequence that includes matches against London Irish and Edinburgh.
With what are likely to be improved set-pieces and a stiffer defence, Connacht need to play with more width, having thus far scored a total of six points in their four defeats. But as much as they will want to rebound from last week, they face a Leinster side themselves keen to bounce back from a first "nil" in their League history and speckled with players viewing this as their chance to stake a Heineken Cup place.
CONNACHT:F Carr; L Bibo, G Duffy, K Matthews, M Roberts; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Loughney; M McCarthy, A Farley; J Muldoon (capt), J O'Connor, C Rigney. Replacements: C Muldoon, R Morris, A Browne, M Swift, K Campbell, T Nathan, J Hearty.
LEINSTER:R Kearney; S Horgan, L Fitzgerald, F Contepomi, S Keogh; J Sexton, C Keane; S Wright, J Fogarty, CJ van der Linde; L Cullen (capt), D Toner; R Elsom, S O'Brien, S Keogh. Replacements: C Healy, B Blaney, T Hogan, C Jowitt, C Whitaker, F McFadden, G Brown.
Referee:George Clancy (IRFU).
Betting (Paddy Power):7/2 Connacht, 25/1 Draw, 2/11 Leinster. Handicap odds (= Connacht + 12 pts) 10/11 Connacht, 25/1 Draw, 10/11 Leinster.
Forecast:Leinster to win.
• Tickets are still available through www.ticketmaster.ie or by calling into the Connacht Branch Office on College Road.
