Rugby: As expected, Seán O'Brien will replace Jamie Heaslip at number when Leinster welcome Saracens to the RDS for their fifth round Heineken Cup clash on Saturday (1.30pm).
Ireland's talismanic number eight is unavailable for the match while nursing an ankle injury but player of the month O’Brien is ready to fill the sizeable void left in his absence.
The Carlow man will be joined in the backrow by Dominic Ryan and Shane Jennings, while captain Leo Cullen partners Scot Nathan Hines in the secondrow.
Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss and Mike Ross make up the frontrow, while in the backline Isa Nacewa is preferred to Luke Fitzgerald at fullback in the continued absence of Rob Kearney.
Shane Horgan and Fergus McFadden man the wings, with the international central pairing of Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy shoring up midfield.
Outhalf Jonathan Sexton will be partnered by scrumhalf Eoin Reddan, leaving a strong bench with four Irish internationals - Fitzgerald, Kevin McLaughlin, Devin Toner and Isaac Boss - to call upon.
Leinster are top of Pool 2, eight points ahead of fourth placed Sarries, and five ahead of the French teams Clermont Auvergne and Racing Metro 92.
Leinster:
I Nacewa; S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, F McFadden; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross; L Cullen ©, N Hines, D Ryan, S Jennings, S O’Brien.
Replacements:
J Harris-Wright, H Van Der Merwe, C Newland, D Toner, K McLaughlin, I Boss, I Madigan, L Fitzgeral.
Saracens:
N Mordt; D Strettle, M Tagicakibau, B Barritt, J Short; O Farrell, R Wigglesworth; R Gill, S Brits, C Nieto, S Borthwick ©, H Vyyan, K Brown, A Saull, E Joubert.
Replacements:
J George, J Saunders, P Du Plessis, H Smith, J Melck, N de Kock, G Henson, N Cato.
Referee:
R Poite (France)
