TEAM NEWS - Leinster v Cardiff: Leo Cullen returns to the starting line-up to captain Leinster for tomorrow night's Magners League clash against Cardiff at the RDS. Cullen hasn't played since damaging a shoulder that subsequently required surgery during the province's Heineken Cup clash with Wasps in October.
Coach Michael Cheika has also been able to recall CJ van der Linde, who hasn't played since picking up a calf injury before the province's game away to Castres last month.
It all means a formidable pack where Cullen will partner Devin Toner in the secondrow and Sean O'Brien will start in the backrow wtih Rocky Elsom and number eight Jamie Heaslip.
Heaslip and Toner were both rested for last weekend's 26-18 win over Connacht at the RDS.
In the backline, Brian O'Driscoll partners Felipe Contepomi at centre, while Shane Horgan starts on the right wing with Gordon D'Arcy moving to the left. Rob Kearney will start once more at full-back.
The Irish trio of Girvan Dempsey, Luke Fitzgerald and Malcolm O'Kelly all start from the bench.
Although Leinster will want to keep the pressure on league leaders Ospreys, Cheika will surely have one eye on next weekend's crucial Heineken Cup pool match against Wasps at Twickenham.
The defending champions are third in the table, two points behind Munster with 25 points, while their opponents are second from bottom on 16 points, four ahead of bottom side Connacht.
Hooker Gareth Jenkins is set to become only the fifth player to reach the 100 caps milestone should he come off the Cardiff bench.
Xavier Rush, Jamie Roberts and Richie Rees have all recovered from injury and also start from the bench in Dublin.
Rush picked up a knee injury during summer training and required surgery but has fully recovered. Rees, injured his shoulder playing against Glasgow in November, while Roberts has recovered from a fractured skull playing for Wales against Australia in November.
Almost 14,000 tickets have been sold and tickets are still available for tomorrow night's game which kicks-off at 7.30pm.
Leinster: R Kearney, S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, F Contepomi, G D'Arcy, I Nacewa, C Whitaker, S Wright, B Blaney, CJ van der Linde, L Cullen (C), D Toner, R Elsom, S O'Brien, J Heaslip
Replacements: O le Roux, C Healy, M O'Kelly, S Keogh, C Keane, L Fitzgerald, G Dempsey
Cardiff: L Halfpenny, T James, J Robinson, T Shanklin, G Thomas, N Robinson, J Spice, A Powell, R Sowden Taylor, M Molitika, P Tito, B Davies, T Filise, T Rhys Thomas, J Yapp
Replacements: G Jenkins, G Williams, S Morgan, X Rush, R Rees, C Sweeney, J Roberts
