Heineken Cup:Bernard Jackan will start for Leinster against Harlequins at The Stoop on Sunday despite sitting out training all week with a swollen knee. Michael Cheika has also named Brian O'Drsicoll and Luke Fitzgerald in the backline for the Heineken European Cup quarter-final.
Jackman, who was Cheika’s biggest injury concern ahead of the game, starts in the frontrow alongside Cian Healy and Stan Wright.John Fogarty is among the replacements should the hooker not last the 80 minutes.
The secondrow is comprised of captain Leo Cullen and veteran lock Malcolm O’Kelly, whiel Leinster;s player of the month Rocky Elsom joins Shane Jennings and Heaslip in the backrow.
Ireland captain O’Driscoll and left-wing Fitzgerald made sufficient progress this week after being rested for the defeat to Munster to be included in a strong backline that sees Felipe Contepomi at outhalf beside Chris Whitaker.
Rob Kearney is named at fullback, with Isa Nacewa on the right wing and Gordon D’Arcy partnering O’Driscoll in the centre.
Girvan Dempsey will start on the bench if Jonathan Sexton’s appeal against a two-week ban is rejected this evening.
Prop Ronan McCormack has been preferred to the experience Ollie Le Roux on the bench.
LEINSTER: Rob Kearney; Isa Nacewa, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Felipe Contepomi, Chris Whitaker; Cian Healy, Bernard Jackman, Stan Wright; Leo Cullen CAPTAIN, Malcolm O'Kelly; Rocky Elsom, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip . Replacements: John Fogarty, Ronan McCormack, Trevor Hogan, Sean O'Brien, Simon Keogh, Jonathan Sexton / Girvan Dempsey**, Shane Horgan
