Rugby - Squad news:British and Irish Lions duo, Gordon D'Arcy and Nathan Hines, have both been named in the Leinster squad ahead of the province's first home game in the Magners League against the Dragons.
They are joined by hooker Bernard Jackman and Academy pair, David Kearney and Brendan Macken, plus Niall Morris, who made his debut in last weekend’s opening defeat away to the Scarlets.
Summer signings Shaun Berne and Mike Ross are also included with the team set to be named on Friday afternoon.
The mood in the camp is positive despite the opening defeat to Llanelli Scarlets and forwards coach Jono Gibbes believes there were some “positives from last weekend”.
“We dominated 85 per cent of the game, our attitude was good and we had great territory gain. We weren't clinical enough and probably a little bit rusty and a win certainly would have been a great start.
"I've noticed this year that the guys have shown greater attention to detail in terms of their analysis and they're asking a lot more questions of themselves particularly and that can only be a positive.
“There aren't a lot of changes in the pack and the skeleton of the unit hasn't really changed. We have some quality personnel throughout the forwards, which adds greater competition.
"We have evolved this year and though Rocky (Elsom) has gone, life goes on. Kevin McLaughlin's performance was another real positive for us in Llanelli. He showed a real enthusiasm, work-rate and willingness to push every inch in the game.”
It will be a “tough game this weekend against the Dragons,” added Gibbes.
“If I were to describe them in one word, it would be bustling. They hassle you and really take it to the opposition. They're also really committed and they'll be up for Saturday's game.”
Elsewhere, Alan Quinlan returns after suspension to join John Hayes in a 25-strong Munster squad ahead of their meeting with Cardiff Blues in Thomond Park on Friday (7.05pm).
Quinlan hasn't featured since being banned for "making contact with the eye area" of Leo Cullen in the Heineken Cup semi-final in May.
Connacht coach Michael Bradley also named his squad ahead of their trip to face Edinburgh in Murrayfield on Friday and has made three changes from the side that lost at home to the Ospreys.
Flanker Mike McCarthy, winger Aidan Wynne and prop Ronan Loughney are all drafted in with injury ruling out Robbie Morris and Niva Ta’auso.
It had been feared that McCarthy might be ruled out for several weeks but a calf injury was not as serious as initially feared.
Ta’auso is out with a fracture in his hand and will undergo further tests this week, while Morris suffered a back injury against the Ospreys.
Former Ulster wing Tommy Bowe is in the Ospreys squad for the first time since returning from the Lions Tour of South Africa.
Bowe is among 24 players named in the squad to face his former team-mates at Liberty Stadium on Saturday (6.30pm), along with Jonathan Thomas, who has missed almost seven months with a groin problem.
The squad will be trimmed to 22 on Friday at noon.
Leinster squad (v Dragons):S Berne, G D'Arcy, S Horgan, C Keane, D Kearney, S Keogh, B Macken, F McFadden, N Morris, I Nacewa, P O'Donohoe, J Sexton, L Cullen, J Fogarty, J Harris-Wright, C Healy, N Hines, B Jackman, S Jennings, S Keogh, R McCormack, K McLaughlin, S O'Brien, M O'Kelly, M Ross, D Toner, S Wright
Munster (v Cardiff):D Barnes, F Jones, S Deasy, D Hurley, D Howlett, B Murphy, T Gleeson, L Mafi, J Manning, T Morland, P Stringer, M Horan, T Buckley, J Brugnaut, J Hayes, D Fogarty, D Varley, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, A Quinlan, B Holland, T O'Donnell, N Ronan, D Leamy, J Coughlan.
Connacht squad (v Edinburgh):A Browne, F Carr, S Cronin, G Duffy, A Flavin, J Hagan, I Keatley, R Loughney, K Matthews, M McCarthy, M McComish, J Muldoon, F Murphy, T Nathan, M Nikora, J O'Connor, R Ofisa, C O'Loughlin, B Tuohy, B Upton, B Wilkinson, A Wynne.
Ospreys squad (v Ulster):D Jones, P James, C Griffiths, R Hibbard, H Bennett, A Lloyd, I Gough, T Smith, J Collins, J Thomas, M Holah, S Tandy, F Tiata, R Jones, B Davies, J Vaughton, N Walker, T Bowe, J Spratt, A Bishop, D Biggar, J Hook, J Nutbrown, M Phillips
