RUGBY:A VEIN OF seasoned international names will run through the Leinster team this weekend. Brian O'Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey, Malcolm O'Kelly and Bernard Jackman have all been included in a 25-man panel for their Magners Celtic League match against the Dragons in the RDS on Saturday.

As befits the hugely supported province, over 15,000 tickets have already been sold for what is their last home league game before Christmas. Those international players are joined by Jonathan Sexton and Cian Healy, who were also involved in Ireland training over the November series.

Wallaby international Rocky Elsom and South African CJ van der Linde also feature in the squad which is expected to be reduced to the final match 22 by lunchtime tomorrow.

But the focus in Ballsbridge may well fall on a number of back-line players, who were involved in Leinster's A games throughout the month with Fergus McFadden, Eoin O'Malley, Paul O'Donoghue, Felix Jones and Simon Keogh all included.

There appears to be an opportunity for one of them to slot into the centre beside O'Driscoll or on the wing depending on Cheika's role for Horgan. The coach has rested the younger players, who were involved in Ireland's three international fixtures, Jamie Heaslip, Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney.

"A lot of guys put their hands up for selection this week after the A games against Saracens, Bristol and the Ospreys," said assistant coach Kurt McQuilkin.

"Players like Gary Brown, Simon and Stephen Keogh and Fergus McFadden did very well, while it was good to see CJ (van der Linde) and Stan Wright get a run last weekend.

"We'll be looking at players who are a bit versatile to come up to the senior squad this week and Saturday will be a great opportunity to have a look at the new guys coming in.

"We know that we let ourselves down last time out against Glasgow. It was one of those nights when nothing ticked over for us. It's important that we try to implement a game plan to counter the Dragons' attacking threat."

Dragons ran Wasps and Bath close recently and they will have taken confidence from their win up in Ulster illustrating that the Welsh side have improved since last year.

Connacht has announced a 26-man squad for tomorrow evening's match against Ulster at Ravenhill. Keith Mathews comes back into the fold for the first time since injuring his calf against Glasgow in September, while Tim Donnelly makes a welcome return from a long lay-off.

Connacht, however, must make the trip to Belfast without their team captain, John Muldoon. The flanker is ruled out of the clash with a calf injury. Coach Michael Bradley will name his starting team today.

LEINSTER SQUAD - backs: C Whitaker, C Keane, P O'Donohoe, J Sexton, F McFadden, B O'Driscoll, E O'Malley, S Horgan, F Jones, S Keogh, G Brown, G Dempsey. Forwards: C Healy, CJ van der Linde, S Wright, J Fogarty, B Jackman, B Blaney, D Toner, T Hogan, M O'Kelly, C Jowitt, S O'Brien, R Elsom, S Keogh.

CONNACHT SQUAD: A Browne, K Campbell, F Carr, S Cronin, M Deane, T Donnelly, G Duffy, A Dunne, A Farley, A Flavin, J Hearty, I Keatley, R Loughney, J Lyne, K Matthews, M McCarthy, J Merrigan, R Morris, F Murphy, T Nathan, J O'Connor, R Ofisa, Colm Rigney, D Riordan, M Swift, B Wilkinson.