Celtic League Team news: Leinster coach Declan Kidney has made several changes ahead of Friday night's Celtic League clash with table-toppers Neath/Swansea Ospreys at St Helen's (7.05).

The Irish province are second behind Friday's opponents thus highlighting the importance of this match but it is given added resonance as it marks the final outing ahead of the opening round of Heineken European Cup fixtures.

The following weekend Leinster travel to Italy to take on Benetton Treviso so the Ospreys game is a final opportunity to stake claims for their Italian adventure.

Denis Hickie, who came off the bench to score two tries against Edinburgh last Sunday, is given a starting berth. He replaces Shane Horgan but will play on the left wing with Gary Brown switching to the right wing. Horgan drops to the bench.

Indeed the three-quarter line that finished the Edinburgh game will start in St Helen's.

Guy Easterby will partner David Holwell at half back, taking over the number-nine jersey from Brian O'Meara who had a fine game on Sunday.

There are four changes in the pack. Ricky Nebbett takes over from Emmet Byrne at tighthead prop, Ben Gissing replaces Leo Cullen, Eric Miller makes way for Shane Jennings at openside while Des Dillon is named at number eight ahead of last weekend's man of the match Victor Costello. Cullen sustained a nasty cut over his eye the last day but is named among the replacements, as is Byrne.

Miller retired with a sore neck the last day and a decision on his fitness to travel will be made later in the week. Ciarán Potts would come into the replacements if Miller is ruled out.

Gordon D'Arcy, who made such an impact when introduced on Sunday, is once again on the bench with Felipe Contepomi continuing his midfield partnership with Brian O'Driscoll.

Munster won't confirm their line-up for Saturday's game against Cardiff at Thomond Park until later today.

Coach Alan Gaffney confirmed that Donncha O'Callaghan would not be available because of his recurring calf problem. It means that the Cork Constitution lock won't have played a competitive game this season ahead of Saturday week's opening round of European Cup fixtures, assuming he is fit for the latter.

There are several other players nursing knocks but Gaffney is reasonably optimistic that he should be able to confirm his starting XV today.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley will be afforded no such luxury as he delays his team selection ahead of Saturday's game against Edinburgh at the Sportsground.

Bernard Jackman, John O'Sullivan, Michael Carroll, Darren Yapp, Matt Mostyn, Conor McPhillips and Niall O'Brien form a lengthy queue for the treatment table.

Jackman has almost recovered from a neck injury while Yapp, who has yet to play a match this season following a knee injury, could play his first game.

McPhillips, a try scorer in Connacht's superb win over Llanelli at Stradey Park, has a hamstring strain.

Ulster's back row injury concerns centre on Andy Ward (who could miss four weeks) and Roger Wilson, both of whom will miss this weekend's game against Glasgow in Hughenden.

The fact that Neil McMillan is out for the rest of the season means coach Mark McCall can ill-afford any more problems in this sector

After yesterday's trial at Crescent College, Dooradoyle, in which the Probables defeated the Possibles by 36-24, the panel of 26 was chosen for the Munster schools' two-match programme against Worcester under-19s on Friday and Gloucester schools on Sunday.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; G Brown, B O'Driscoll, F Contepomi, D Hickie; D Holwell, G Easterby; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, R Nebbett, M O'Kelly, B Gissing; A McCullen, D Dillon, S Jennings. Replacements: E Byrne, G Hickie, L Cullen, E Miller/C Potts, B O'Meara, G D'Arcy, S Horgan.

MUNSTER SCHOOLS PANEL: Backs - R O'Sullivan (Crescent), C Aherne (Crescent), S McKeown (PBC), P Carroll (Crescent), M O'Driscoll (Rockwell), M Kinsella (St Munchins), P Rowley (St Munchins), S Cronin (PBC), P Thompson (Rockwell), K Earls (St Munchins), M South (Crescent), E Broderick (St Munchins). Forwards - B Lynch (Crescent), D Keogh (CBC), N Keogh (St Munchins), R Leonard (Crescent), A Cotter (St Munchins), G Slattery (St Munchins), F Magee (Glenstal), M O'Leary (PBC), C Canning (Rockwell), K Roche (Rockwell), B O'Mahony (Crescent, capt), D Gardiner (St Munchins), F Cross (St Munchins), E Nugent (PBC).