MAGNERS LEAGUE TEAM NEWS:Gordon D'Arcy's injury nightmare is to end at Ravenhill tomorrow night after Leinster coach Michael Cheika named the Ireland star on the right wing for the Magners League clash with Ulster (7.35pm).
D'Arcy has been out of action since the beginning of February when he broke his arm in Ireland's 16-11 Six Nations victory over Italy at Croke Park.
He is one of eight changes from the Leinster side that beat the Dragons 29-13, with most of the alterations coming in the backs.
D'Arcy replaces the rested Shane Horgan on the right wing, with Rob Kearney coming in for Simon Keogh on the left. With Brian O'Driscoll also sitting out the game, Cheika has named a new midfield with Felipe Contepomi partnering Luke Fitzgerald.
Isa Nacewa gets the nod over Jonathan Sexton at outhalf.
In the pack, John Fogarty comes in at hooker for Bernard Jackman, while Trevor Hogan's fine form with the Leinster 'A' side seeing him come in to the side in place of Malcolm O'Kelly in the secondrow.
Meanwhile, Fijian flyer Timoci Nagusa returns to the Ulster line-up for the sold-out clash.
The Fijian flyer has taken a liking to derby matches, scoring two tries in Ulster's 22-6 victory over Munster at Ravenhill. He followed that up with a try against Connacht in their 53-13 win at the Sportsground.
A hamstring injury ruled him out of Ulster's two recent Heineken Cup games against Llanelli but he takes his place on the right wing for tomorrow's encounter.
Injuries are still a big concern for Ulster coach Matt Williams, who had to plan without Ryan Caldwell, Simon Danielli, Cillian Willis and Carlo del Fava.
Fullback Bryn Cunningham will win his 100th Magners League cap in an Ulster side that has had little time off over Christmas.
"We have prepared hard for this match, with so many players out with injury we will really have to be on top of our game on Saturday," remarked Williams.
"Leinster are a class act, and with the resent criticism they have had they will be out to prove their critics wrong. This game will be a battle right to the final whistle.
"We have prepared physically and mentally, so all we can do now is go out and play the best rugby we can and fight the Blues all the all way," added Williams.
Mick O'Driscoll will win his 130th competitive Munster cap when he leads the side against Connacht in the Magners League clash at the Sportsground on Sunday (6.0pm).
O'Driscoll's last time in charge of the side was against the All Blacks and on Sunday he will have only four of the pack that started that night but the backline remains almost in its entirety from the one that played on that memorable November night.
Coach Tony McGahan believes clashes between the provinces bring their own intensity.
"There is no difference in the scale of difficulty when you play against any of the other Irish sides. They're local derbies simple as that and that gives them that extra edge.
"Playing Connacht away is every bit as tough as playing Ulster in Ravenhill or Leinster in Dublin. And we only have to remember past games down at The Sportsground to realise what we'll be up against on Sunday.
"Last year for example, I think we were just barely ahead, a point or two, when we scored a late try that Rog converted but there was nothing in it right throughout.
"It was same the year before and there a few 3-0 wins as well. This season they've beaten Glasgow and Leinster here and come into the game on foot of a good Challenge Cup run so we're under no illusions about the scale of the task we face on Sunday."
Flanker John Muldoon returns from injury to captain Connacht having been out of action since playing against Edinburgh in October.
In all there are five changes to the side which beat Rugby Rovigo last time out before Christmas. Liam Bibo has recovered from a hamstring injury to start on the left wing while Niva Ta'auso will make his first start at outside centre.
Up front Sean Cronin starts at hooker while Colm Rigney returns at number eight.
ULSTER (v Leinster):B Cunningham; T Nagusa, D Cave, P Wallace, A Trimble; I Humphreys, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, R Best, BJ Botha, E O'Donoghue, M McCullough, S Ferris, D Pollock, R Diack.
Replacements: N Brady, T Court, T Anderson, K Dawson, P Marshall, P Steinmetz, C Schifcofske.
LEINSTER:G Dempsey; G D'Arcy, L Fitzgerald, F Contepomi, R Kearney; I Nacewa, C Whitaker (Capt); C Healy, J Fogarty, S Wright, T Hogan, D Toner, R Elsom, S O'Brien, J Heaslip Replacements: B Blaney, R McCormack, M O'Kelly, Stephen Keogh, C Jowitt, C Keane, J Sexton, Simon Keogh.
CONNACHT (v Munster):G Duffy; T Nathan, N Ta'auso, K Matthews, L Bibo; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; M McCarthy, A Farley; J Muldoon (Capt), R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements (from): A Flavin, R Loughney, A Browne, M Swift, K Campbell, A Dunne, M Deane, F Carr.
MUNSTER:K Earls; D Howlett, B Murphy, L Mafi, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, J Flannery, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll (Capt), D Ryan, A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Wallace. Replacements: F Sheahan, T Ryan, J Coughlan, N Williams, M Prendergast, J Manning, D Hurley.
