Rugby:Ireland internationals Jonathan Sexton and Luke Fitzgerald will return to provincial action on Sunday after being named in the Leinster side to face the Dragons at Rodney Parade (2.30pm).
Captain Leo Cullen, who was used sparingly throughout the Six Nations campaign, also reclaims his place in the secondrow, while Fergus McFadden is named in the centre alongside Eoin O’Malley.
Number eight Jamie Heaslip, scrumhalf Eoin Reddan and Scotland's Nathan Hines are all named on the bench, with Isaac Boss set to partner Sexton.
Fitzgerald was dropped from the matchday squad for the final game of the Six Nations against England, after some mixed performances at fullback, but he will be used on the left wing by Joe Schmidt this weekend. On the right, there is a welcome return for Shane Horgan after a two-month injury lay-off, while Isa Nacewa is to start at fullback.
Schmidt has, however, remained true to the younger players, like O’Malley, Rhys Ruddock and Dominic Ryan, who have served him so well during the international window.
Skills coach Richie Murphy is in no doubt, however, they are in for a real test, as the team targets five wins from five to guarantee a play-off place.
“A couple of the younger players have done well when they’ve played for the Seniors. If you were to ask any of them I think they’d say that they have enjoyed their chances to play,” he said today.
“The Senior guys that are there are looking after them and helping them through the games. And I think that the young lads are progressing well.
“Rodney Parade is a very difficult place to play. Over the last two years we have shipped reasonably big defeats so I think this week it will be about us getting ourselves right, being mentally ready for the game and with the league position that we’re in at the moment it’s a ‘must-win’ game for us.
“They have threats all through their team. They’re particularly strong in their back-row and they’ve plenty of pace out wide as well.
“At this stage of the season – I mean last year one or two teams had all but confirmed their places in the semi finals – any one from six teams can realistically make the semi finals.
“So, with that in mind, we’re very conscious that each game matters now and out of the last five games, we’re going to have to try and win them all.”
Cullen will start with Devin Toner in the secondrow, while Ryan and number eight Ruddock have Kevin McLaughlin for company in the backrow.
Leinster (v Dragons):Isa Nacewa; Shane Horgan, Eoin O'Malley, Fergus McFadden, Luke Fitzgerald; Jonathan Sexton, Isaac Boss; Heinke van der Merwe, Richardt Strauss, Stan Wright; Leo Cullen (capt), Devin Toner; Kevin McLaughlin, Dominic Ryan, Rhys Ruddock. Replacements: Aaron Dundon, Jack McGrath, Simon Shawe, Nathan Hines, Jamie Heaslip, Eoin Reddan, Ian Madigan, Dave Kearney
