Easterby provides silver lining

Team news : Leinster can call on the services of scrum-half Guy Easterby for this weekend's trip to Celtic League pacesetters…

Team news: Leinster can call on the services of scrum-half Guy Easterby for this weekend's trip to Celtic League pacesetters Ulster.

Coach Michael Cheika, who confirmed yesterday that number 10 Felipe Contemponi will be out of action for at least six weeks with a new injury, also welcomes back his full compliment of Ireland internationals for Saturday's match at Ravenhill.

Easterby has been out of action since October after suffering a fractured jaw but was included in the Leinster squad announced this afternoon.

Likewise Girvan Dempsey, who was given a clean bill of health despite being knocked unconscious during Ireland's win over the Pacific Islands on Sunday.

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Cheika will wait until Friday before finalising his starting XV.

Ulster will be looking to maintain their unbeaten home record, which stretches back to the start of 2006, although their recent record against Leinster is not impressive with only one win in their last eight games.

Leinster squad
 
Forwards: Ronan McCormack, Reggie Corrigan, Brian Blaney, Harry Vermaas, Fosi Pala'amo, Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O'Kelly, Owen Finegan, Cameron Jowitt, Stephen Keogh, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip

Backs: Chris Whitaker, Guy Easterby, Andrew Dunne, Christian Warner, Gordon D'Arcy, Brian O'Driscoll, Kieran Lewis, Shane Horgan, Denis Hickie, Luke Fitzgerald, Girvan Dempsey, Rob Kearney