Gordon D'Arcy returns for Leinster's top of the table Magners League clash with a formidable looking Munster side at Musgrave Park tomorrow.
A hip injury prevented D'Arcy from featuring in last week's 26-19 win over Ospreys but the Ireland international is back in the fold alongside Stephen Keogh, Jamie Heaslip, Malcolm O'Kelly, Bernard Jackman and Ollie le Roux.
In the absence of Chris Whitaker, scrumhalf Cillian Willis will partner Felipe Contepomi who returns to outhalf, while tryscorers from last week Rob Kearney and Shane Horgan start in a back three that is completed by Luke Fitzgerald on the left wing.
Le Roux's return sees the South African join hooker Jackman and Stan Wright in the frontrow. In the seceondrow Leo Cullen partners the rejuvenated O'Kelly, who replaces Devin Toner.
Kidney has opted for wholesale changes.
In the absence of Ireland wing Brian Carney, who is struggling with a knee injury, Kieran Lewis will start on the right wing.
Carney and Lewis scored a try each in Munster's seven score mauling of the Dragons last weekend, but the latter now vacates the second centre spot for Rua Tipoki to partner Lifeimi Mafi, while Shaun Payne returns to fullback instead of Denis Hurley.
Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery and John Hayes make up an all-Irish frontrow with prop Federico Pucciariello on Barbarians duty and hooker Frank Sheahan and Tony Buckley demoted to the bench.
David Wallace returns to the openside with Donnacha Ryan moving from secondrow to blindside.
Denis Leamy will stand in at number eight for the injured Alan Quinlan, while Ryan's move makes room for Donncha O'Callaghan to slot in beside lock Mick O'Driscoll.
Outhalf Ronan O'Gara will captain the side and renew hostilities with Argentinean Contepomi for the first time since the latter enjoyed a bit of niggle with his Irish counterpart in their final pool game of the World Cup.
"Munster Leinster games are always great occasions, you only have to look at the demand for tickets over the past few weeks to know that. Certainly the interest in this game seems to be right up there with anything we've experienced in the past," said Kidney today.
"As for the game itself, I think its going to be a great contest. They are one of the top sides not alone in Ireland but in Europe so we'd have a lot of respect for them. There'll be a great atmosphere and its days like these make this job so enjoyable."
Leinster centre and captain Brian O'Driscoll agrees and says his side are relishing another meeting with their friendly foes.
"There's always great rivalry whenever you play one of the Irish provinces, and Friday night will be no different against Munster. It's not just bragging rights at stake, the team who wins can go top of the league. But at this stage of the season, irrespective of Friday night's result, I don't think that either side will think that they're in the driving seat.
"Consistency is the most important factor coming into a big game like this," added the Ireland captain. "We have improved our away form this year, and that's not easy in a competition as intense as the Magners League because it tends to be more difficult to win away from home.
"There are friends in both camps, but you tend to put everything to one side when you come up against each other. Even if you're team-mates with Ireland, it makes no odds when you play in an Interpro.
"In the past, the feeling is that Munster would have had a very good pack, and they do, but they also have some very effective backs. We know that they have great strength at halfback and out wide, but they also have two very effective midfielders. So their strengths are not just in the pack, but right across the team.
"But it's 15 versus 15 and there's no fear of Leinster getting ahead of ourselves. This is a massive game and we're focused on each individual game. We will look to attack the game the same way we would any other."
Kick-off at Musgrave Park is at 7.30om tomorrow.
Leinster: Rob Kearney, Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll (c), Gordon D'Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Felipe Contepomi, Cillian Willis; Ollie le Roux, Bernard Jackman, Stan Wright; Leo Cullen, Malcolm O'Kelly; Stephen Keogh, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: Brian Blaney, Cian Healy, Cameron Jowitt, Keith Gleeson, Chris Keane, Jonathan Sexton, Gary Brown
Munster: Shaun Payne, Kieran Lewis, Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi, Ian Dowling; Ronan O'Gara (c), Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes; Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll; Donncha Ryan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy
Replacements: Frank Sheahan, Tony Buckley, Anthony Foley, Niall Ronan, Gerry Hurley, Paul Warwick, Barry Murphy
