It is doubtful whether James McLaren considered himself to be whistling in the graveyard when he suggested it is Leinster and not Glasgow who will enter tonight's Celtic League semi-final with a degree of trepidation. The Glasgow centre (29), was candid about the visitors' chances at Lansdowne Road, saying: "We don't fear them or anyone else."

McLaren has been in superb form this season and was once again prominent in his side's hard-fought quarter-final victory over Connacht at the Sportsground last weekend, scoring one of Glasgow's four tries.

The Scottish team have already lost to Leinster this season, in the opening match of the pool stages of the Celtic League. The Irish province outscored their opponents by three tries to one that day and were helped home by a 24-point contribution from scrumhalf Brian O'Meara with the boot.

But according to McLaren, who has been capped 15 times by Scotland: "This is a whole new ball game. Since then, Scotland have given Ireland 'a doing', and that is the result which will be uppermost in the minds of both sides.

"They will have a whole string of Test men in their line-up, including Brian O'Driscoll and Shane Horgan, but I am pretty sure they will be worrying more about us than we will about them.

"Already this term we proved we can win in Wales - now we have shown we can also win in Ireland. A lot of our lads will never have played in Lansdowne Road, but we are confident we can go there and do the business.

"It (the Connacht victory) was one of those games you have to 'dog' out and we did just that. It was a fantastic result and I am certain that with just a little tinkering we can do the same this weekend."

McLaren's candour will add a refreshing edge to tonight's contest. Born in Scotland, his family moved to Australia when he was seven.

On completing his high school education he returned to the place of his birth in 1991 and joined Stirling County. While there he represented Glasgow at under-21 level.

But his stay was shortlived, as he headed back to the Southern Hemisphere to further his education at university and switched codes to rugby league, playing for the renowned Canberra Raiders.

It wasn't until 1996 that McLaren again embraced Scotland, and the following year he made his debut for Caledonia in a win over Connacht.

His representative career was further enhanced with three Scotland A caps. The wanderlust continued and he headed for France, where he played two seasons with the Bourgoin-Jallieu club.

He made a major contribution when Bourgoin beat Ulster in France in the 1999-2000 European Cup (the French club managed the double over the Irish province that season).

McLarenrejoined Glasgow last season. A regular in Ian McGeechan's national side, arguably his best performance of the season was against Ireland in Murrayfield last September when he helped to shut out the threat posed by the Leinster midfield axis of Horgan and O'Driscoll.

Glasgow coach Richie Dixon has decided to persist with Rory Kerr at full back in the continued absence of the injured Glenn Metcalfe.

Kerr had a fine game against Connacht and the wing has adapted easily to his new role. He deserves a break, having battled back from a cruciate ligament injury.

Leinster's perennial unease against Scottish teams ensures that although they go into tonight's contest as favourites, they will be aware of the challenge presented.

Glasgow like to introduce a looseness and pace to the game but in Tommy Hayes they possess an outhalf who can turn teams around with his diagonal punting.

Both teams enjoy giving the ball width and so an entertaining contest is anticipated. Not least the collision in midfield.