News round-up: Murrayfield, the scene of Leinster's massive European disappointment this season, offers a redemption of sorts for Michael Cheika's side on Friday.
Cheika, who named an extended 27-man squad this afternoon, can guide the province to a second Celtic League title in the Scottish capital and exorcise some of the ghosts that have lingered since December in the process.
Twelve points clear with just three games remaining, Leinster travel to face Edinburgh with Brian O'Driscoll again hoping to make his comeback from the hamstring injury picked up on Six Nations duty.
O'Driscoll, who hasn't featured in the competition since the start of January and has made just four starts in the competition, will undergo a fitness test on Thursday when a decision on his inclusion will be made.
Elsewhere, Connacht's slim hopes of securing a first Heineken Cup berth see them requiring at least four points away to the Dragons but coach Michael Bradley is determined to take the race with Ulster for European qualification to the wire.
"We're faced with a situation where we can still qualify for the Heineken Cup as both Ulster and the Dragons have a hard run-in.
"If we can get a win in Rodney Parade then we're still in a
position to achieve our objective for the season. However in the
past our matches against the Dragons have gone to the home side . .
. they're quite formidable at home so it'll be a difficult ask."
Leinster squad:
Forwards: Cian Healy, Ollie le Roux, Brian Blaney, Bernard Jackman, Stephen Knoop, Stan Wright, Leo Cullen, Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O'Kelly, Cameron Jowitt, Stephen Keogh, Keith Gleeson, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip
Backs: Chris Keane, Chris Whitaker, Felipe Contepomi, Jonathan Sexton, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney, Michael Berne, Christian Warner, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin O'Malley, Gary Brown, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey
