European Cup: Leinster could have done without the pre-match dramatics of their Celtic League victory over Ulster last weekend when they lost four players on the day of the game on top of the absence of Girvan Dempsey and Eric Miller.
At yesterday's press conference to announce the Leinster team to play host to the Sale Sharks in Friday night's Heineken European Cup match at Lansdowne Road, coach Gary Ella confirmed that three of the four who withdrew on the day of the Ulster match would be fit to resume duty. Brian O'Driscoll and Shane Horgan return to form a midfield partnership and Keith Gleeson is named at openside flanker.
Ella's main concern is outhalf Christian Warner. "There is obviously a cloud hanging over Christian Warner, who had a tear of the quad muscle. It's still very tender and how it holds up over the next few days will dictate whether he plays.
"Matt Leek did very well against Ulster and will come in if Christian doesn't come through."
The coach also elaborated on another selection conundrum that saw him name both Miller and Aidan McCullen at blindside flanker. "There is a slight doubt about Eric Miller but we are very confident that he will play. He had a slight fall on it (his shoulder) in training on Monday but we are expecting him to be 100 per cent fit."
Leinster's opponents, Sale Sharks, have been placed under video scrutiny and Ella was candid in his appraisal of the Zurich Premiership side. "We watched Sale over the past couple of weeks with Jason Robinson playing, (Charlie) Hodgson at outhalf, (Graeme) Bond (in the centre) and Vaughan Going at full back.
"They have some very talented backs and they have been moving the ball wide. The scrumhalf (former Scotland international Bryan Redpath) has a very long pass and they're looking to bring width to their game. They are also a very strong counter-attacking side.
"We think they have an outstanding defensive lineout so we have to make sure that we get ourselves into position so that we don't create trouble of our own making."
Friday night could mark the final game for Sale of Australian Stu Pinkerton, who, along with Bond, was coached by Ella at New South Wales. Ella is well aware of their qualities, singling out Pinkerton. "The wide game is ideally suited to his talents; he's an excellent player who's a good link man. We're expecting them to attack us out side."
Ulster coach Alan Solomons has made just a single alteration to the team beaten by Leicester for Sunday's match against Leicester at Ravenhill. Shane Stewart, an original selection for the match who withdrew on the day of the game through injury, is restored to the team with Adam Larkin dropping to the replacements and Seamus Mallon omitted from the match 22.
Leicester have several injury concerns of their own. Lewis Moody and Julian White are definitely out, hooker Dorian West has had knee surgery while Martin Johnson suffered a back injury against Gloucester last weekend.
Munster will announce their team today for Saturday's clash with Gloucester. John Hayes is expected to be fit, but there are minor doubts surrounding tighthead prop Gordon McIlwham and Jeremy Staunton.
Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made a series of changes for Saturday's Parker Pen European Challenge Cup home tie against Pau as he continues the rotation policy which has served him so well this season.
Wayne Munn comes into the side on the left wing, with David Hewitt starting at outhalf. Positional changes see Conor McPhillips swapping wings, Matt Mostyn going to full back and Mark McHugh going to inside centre.
Up front, Mike McCarthy comes back into the side to partner Andrew Farley in the second row, while Tom Carter returns at openside flanker, with prop Warren O'Kelly and back rower Mick Carroll being added to the replacements bench.
ULSTER: P Wallace; J Topping, S Stewart, P Steinmetz, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; R Kempson, M Sexton, S Best; R Frost, M Mustchin; A Ward (capt), R Wilson, N Best. Replacements: P Shields, R Moore, M McCullough, W Brosnihan, K Campbell, A Larkin, B Cunningham.
LEINSTER: G Dempsey; J McWeeney, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, G D'Arcy; C Warner/M Leek, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, P Coyle; B Gissing, M O'Kelly; E Miller/A McCullen, V Costello, K Gleeson. Replacements: G Hickie, J Moran, A McCullen/D Dillon, S Jennings, B O'Riordan, M Leek/B Burke, D Quinlan.
CONNACHT: M Mostyn; C McPhillips, D Yapp, M McHugh, W Munn; D Hewitt, M Walls; D McFarland, B Jackman, A Clarke; M McCarthy, A Farley; M Swift, T Carter, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: J Fogarty, W O'Kelly, M Lacey, M Carroll, C O'Loughlin, E Elwood, T Robinson.
