Rugby - Team news:The musical chairs at outside centre will continue for Leinster this weekend with Eoin O'Malley set to return to the role for the final Heineken Cup pool three game against Montpellier at the RDS tomorrow (1.30pm). Munster have recalled Donncha O'Callaghan for the trip to Northampton, while Ian Whitten will start for Ulster.
In a move no doubt influenced to an extent by the absence of Luke Fitzgerald, O’Malley is selected alongside Gordon D’Arcy, Fergus McFadden moves to the right wing and David Kearney drops out of the squad. Fitzgerald is still recovering from a neck injury, so McFadden will join fullback Rob Kearney and Isa Nacewa in the back three.
As expected, Jonathan Sexton returns from a rolled ankle to partner Isaac Boss, whose inclusion ahead of Eoin Reddan is a clear indication his recent form hasn't gone unnoticed.
Kevin McLaughlin (shoulder), however, has not been named, despite a positive prognosis yesterday. The backrow will, therefore, be manned by Rhys Ruddock, Seán O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip.
Captain Leo Cullen is set to make his 170th appearance beside fellow lock Damian Browne, with the former's Achilles concerns not yet hampering his ability to front up in the big games.
Conversely, prop Jamie Hagan will win his first cap in the competition ahead of of Mike Ross after being selected in the frontrow with Cian Healy and hooker Richardt Strauss. The South African has recovered from a broken nose and replaces Seán Cronin, who is on the bench with six other homegrown players and Heinke van der Merwe.
Defending champions Leinster, who have already qualified for the knockout stages, need a win to guarantee a home quarter-final in April.
Niall Ronan's cruciate ligament injury has forced Tony McGahan to reshuffle the Munsterpack ahead of the clash with Northamptonat stadium:mk (6pm).
The sole personnel change sees lock O’Callaghan return to the starting line-up, a move that sees Donncha Ryan move to blindside flanker and Peter O’Mahony shift to the openside.
The changes also afford Mick O’Driscoll his first chance of the season to make an appearance in the competition and add to his 196 Munster caps from the bench.
Like Leinster, Munster need a win tomorrow to ensure a home quarter-final, so they will be buoyed by the news that freescoring wing Chris Asthon is not in the Saints side, amid reports of a bust up with coach Jim Mallinder. The England wing this week agreed to join Saracens next season.
There is also no place for flanker Tom Wood, who has been ruled out with a toe injury. However, Munster target and Ireland A international James Downey will start at inside centre, while former Blackrock College student Vas Artemyev is named on the left wing.
Whitten will replace the injured centre Darren Cave for Ulster's daunting trip to Clermont Auvergne (3.40pm).
Ulster have yet to qualify, despite topping Pool Four as it stands. Having never won in France in 14 attempts, they travel to Stade Marcel Michelin needing a victory to guarantee progression, but could make it through as one of the two runners-up if results elsewhere go their way.
Brian McLaughlin's men will be buoyed by last week's demolition of Leicester, which was led by Johann Muller and Chris Henry, and won by Ruan Pienaar and Andrew Trimble - all of whom are available - while Stefan Terblanche gets the nod over Adam D'Arcy at fullback.
On the bench, Nevin Spence comes in as cover for Whitten, while Andi Kyriacou replaces Nigel Brady. The hooker will earn his 50th cap for the province if he gets any time on the pitch.
Clermont are unbeaten at home in 38 matches, but belief resonates within the Ulster camp ahead of their 100th European tie.
"This weekend is all about clearing the next hurdle in our progression," said attack coach Neil Doak today. "It was great to reach the quarter-finals last year and be highly competitive against Northampton Saints, but the game in Clermont is much bigger than last year's quarter-final.
"We've got to go and get the monkey off our back by winning in France for the first time and we want to put ourselves in with a chance of a home draw in the last eight. Munster and Leinster are already there and it would be great for Irish rugby if we had three provinces in the quarter-finals for the first time. We have been building nicely towards this game and the players all know how important it is."
Leinster: R Kearney; F McFadden, E O'Malley, G D'Arcy, I Nacewa; J Sexton, I Boss; C Healy, R Strauss, J Hagan; L Cullen (capt), D Browne; R Ruddock, S O'Brien, J Heaslip . Replacements: S Cronin, H Van Der Merwe, M Ross, D Toner, S Jennings, E Reddan, I Madigan, F Carr.
Montpellier:L Amorosino; T Nagusa, Y Audrin, P Bosch, M Bustos Moyano; F Trinh-Duc, J Tomas; N Leleimalefaga, A Creevy, G Jgenti; D Hancke, M Demarco; F Ouedraogo,
M Gorgodze, A Tulou. Replacements: R van Vuuren, J Figallo, M Bustos, J Tuineau, V Bost, B Paillaugue, S Fernandez, G Doumayrou.
Munster: D Hurley; J Murphy, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo; R O'Gara, C Murray; W du Preez, D Varley, BJ Botha; Donncha O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt; D Ryan, P O'Mahony, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Fogarty, M Horan, S Archer, M O'Driscoll, Dave O'Callaghan, T O'Leary, I Keatley, D Barnes.
Northampton:B Foden; J Elliott, G Pisi, J Downey, V Artemyev; R Lamb, L Dickson; S Tonga'uiha, D Hartley, B Mujati; S Manoa, M Sorenson; C Clark, P Dowson, R Wilson. Replacements: B Sharman, A Waller, P Doran-Jones, C Day, B Nutley, M Roberts, S Myler, S Armstrong.
Ulster:S Terblanche; A Trimble, I Whitten, P Wallace, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, R Pienaar; T Court, R Best, J Afoa, J Muller (capt), D Tuohy, S Ferris, C Henry, P Wannenburg. Replacements: A Kyriacou, C Black, A Macklin, L Stevenson, W Faloon, P Marshall, N Spence, A D'Arcy
ASM Clermont Auvergne:L Byrne; S Sivavatu, A Rougerie (capt), W Fofana, J Malzieu; D Skrela, M Parra; L Faure, B Kayser, C Ric, J Pierre, N Hines, G Vosloo, J Bardy, J Bonnaire. Replacements: T Paulo, V Debaty, D Kotze, J Cudmore, A Lapandry, K Senio, B James, R King.
