Dan Leavy return on the cards as Leinster welcome Zebre to RDS

Pro14: Leinster v Zebre Rugby, Friday October 23rd, RDS Arena, Friday, 7.35pm – Live on TG4, Eir Sport

Dan Leavy is poised to return to action for the first time since suffering a horrific knee injury in a Champions Cup quarter-final match against Ulster at the Aviva stadium in March of last year after he was named among the replacements for Leinster's Pro14 game against Zebre in the RDS on Friday night (7.35).

It’s a significant landmark for the 26-year-old Leinster and Ireland flanker, who has worked so hard to overcome the injury and also for his province and country in the return of an outstanding player.

Leinster head coach Leo Cullen said: "It's great. As we saw at the time, it was a nasty injury, 18 months ago now.

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"All the medical team, especially Karl Denver, worked so hard to get him back to this point but he did the work so huge credit to him, so hopefully he will get some action. It will be great to see him get some action and take another step.

“People need to be patient and have realistic expectations. He is still a quality player with a big personality. He needs to find his rhythm. Hopefully he hits the pitch of it and hopefully he’ll go well.”

Cullen has named four uncapped players in his matchday 23, centre Liam Turner, hooker Dan Sheehan, outhalf cum centre David Hawkshaw and prop Ciarán Parker. Dave Kearney returns following a hamstring injury and will win his 150th appearance, Devin Toner will make his 250th, Peter Dooley is back after a shoulder issue while Ciarán Frawley has also recovered from a facial injury.

On the bench, Ciarán Parker is in line to make his Leinster debut should he be introduced. Leinster face two old boys Ian Nagle and Mick Kearney, who will make up the secondrow in the Zebre team coached by Michael Bradley.

LEINSTER: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Liam Turner, Ciarán Frawley, Dave Kearney; Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath; Peter Dooley, Dan Sheehan, Michael Bent; Devin Toner, Ross Molony; Josh Murphy, Scott Penny, Rhys Ruddock.

Replacements: James Tracy, Michael Milne, Ciaran Parker, Jack Dunne, Scott Fardy, Hugh O'Sullivan, David Hawkshaw, Dan Leavy.

ZEBRE: M Biondelli; P Bruno, T Boni (capt), E Lucchin, J Elliot; P Pescetto, N Casillo; P Buonfiglio, M Manfredi, A Tarus; M Kearney, I Nagle; L Masselli, R Giammarioli, J Tuivaiti.

Replacements: O Fabiani, A Lovotti, M Nocera, L Krumov, S Ortis, J Renton, A Rizzi, J Lalofi.

Referee: Craig Evans (WRU).