CELTIC LEAGUE/Leinster v Ulster: Ulster are facing back-to-back defeats to Leinster this evening after their hugely influential out-half David Humphreys was ruled out with a recurring toe injury. Adam Larkin takes over at number 10 with the fit-again Paddy Wallace on the bench.
The corresponding fixture back in September signalled a new era for Leinster rugby under Declan Kidney as they ended Ulster's two-year unbeaten run at Ravenhill, crucially, minus several key figures.
That 26-15 result also heralded a new phase for Ulster rugby as new coach Mark McCall and his assistant, Allen Clarke, quickly realised the magnitude of the task ahead.
To their credit they appeared to have restored the Ravenhill factor against Stade Francais earlier this month, in turn keeping their interests in the Heineken European Cup afloat.
But in the immediate aftermath the management insisted it was imperative they use the result as a base level for the rest of the season. This evening will decide whether it was another false dawn.
Leinster are viewing the fixture from a different standpoint.
Things are motoring along sufficiently in the Celtic League - they lie third at the mid-way point - and a trip to Cork follows on New Year's Day.
However, this is all a precursor to the following weekend when they visit the Rec in hope of overcoming a Bath side intent on revenge. Do that and aspirations move onto the biggest prize of all.
The Bath game is when they will field at full strength. In the interim Kidney has elected to go with a somewhat experimental line-up.
Felipe Contepomi is shifted to full back - another quality performance there from the Argentine and Girvan Dempsey will be sweating for his place.
This is done with an eye on restoring the international centre pairing of Gordon D'Arcy and Brian O'Driscoll. D'Arcy starts his first game since damaging his groin, while scoring in the corner against Bath at Lansdowne road two months ago.
Another glance to Europe sees Shane Horgan pushed to his less preferred, and less effective, wing slot.
David Quinlan retains his place after a try-scoring display against Cardiff last week so for now O'Driscoll is held in reserve, as one of the seven internationals, three of which are Lions, on the bench.
Quinlan's early-season form, especially against Ulster when he overshadowed the more feted centre pairing of Paul Steinmetz and Jonny Bell, warranted a recall.
This time though he gets to compare notes with the benchmark for inside channel running in this country, Kevin Maggs.
Along with team-mate Humphreys, Ulster newest son was the worst affected by Ireland's selection policy during last year's Six Nations.
With the 2005 tournament just two months away this is the ideal platform to challenge for a starting berth in green. In short, Maggs will be fired up.
As is the traditional way, the forward duel should be energy-sapping stuff but Leinster have the luxury of launching Malcolm O'Kelly, Shane Byrne and Eric Miller into the fray late on.
If it's close, their introduction along, with O'Driscoll and Denis Hickie, should ensure Ulster are still searching for victory at Donnybrook since August 1999 by the finish.
LEINSTER: F Contepomi; S Horgan, G D'Arcy, D Quinlan, K Lewis; D Holwell, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (Capt), D Blaney, R Nebbett; B Gissing, L Cullen; A McCullen, V Costello, N Ronan. Replacements: E Byrne, S Byrne, M O Kelly, E Miller, B O'Riordan, B O'Driscoll, D Hickie.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, P Steinmetz, K Maggs, T Howe; A Larkin, K Campbell; S Best, R Best, R Moore; G Longwell, M McCullough; C Feather (Capt), R Wilson, N Best. Replacements: N Brady, R McCormack, R Frost, M Mustchin, N Doak, P Wallace, J Bell.
Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU).
Recent Meetings: August 2001 (CL) at Donnybrook: Leinster 31 Ulster 9; October 2003 (Celtic Cup Quarter-final) at Ravenhill: Ulster 23 Leinster 23; January 2004 (CL) at Donnybrook: Leinster 32 Ulster 30; May 2004 (CL) at Ravenhill: Ulster 28 Leinster 6; September 2004 (CL) at Ravenhill: Ulster 15 Leinster 26.
Verdict: Leinster.
