MALCOLM O’KELLY could become Leinster’s most capped player in Saturday’s top-of-the-table Magners League clash with Llanelli Scarlets, (Stradey Park, 5.30pm).

THERE may still be five rounds to play before this year’s Magners League campaign is put to bed, but Leinster already have one hand gripped firmly around the trophy after events in Dublin and Wales last night.

THE Heineken Cup has always been the Holy Grail for the Irish provinces but Felipe Contepomi can’t help but be bemused by the general air of indifference the Magners League generates on these shores.

A LACK of involvement with the national side is one of the key reasons behind Keith Gleeson’s decision to retire from professional rugby at the end of the season, according to Leinster coach Michael Cheika.

INJURIES and international duties will deprive Leinster of seven front-line players at the Sportsground this evening but Michael Cheika has still been able to name a hugely experienced first 15 for the Magners League tie against Connacht (kick-off 7.30).

GIRVAN DEMPSEY has described his recovery from his hip injury as “slow but good” and is keeping his fingers crossed that he will be ready in time for the next Six Nations match against Wales.

LEINSTER’S South African prop Ollie le Roux believes Toulouse will destroy Munster’s dreams of a second Heineken Cup title.

MICHAEL CHEIKA claims a perceived sense of injustice over their lack of representation in the Ireland pack will act as extra motivation for his Leinster forwards ahead of this weekend’s crunch Magners League tie.

EXORCISING their Murrayfield ghosts may be Leinster’s primary goal for the visit of Magners League basement boys, Ulster, to the RDS on St Stephen’s Day, but under pressure Blues coach Michael Cheika may also have a point to prove to his detractors.

IT was just over a year ago and Stan Wright, a beefy Pacific Islander, was at home in the Cook Islands, working construction.

IF there was one obvious downside to Leinster’s defeat of Munster last Friday evening it was the sight of Brian O’Driscoll hobbling off the pitch after half an hour but it seems the Irish captain is recovering and on track to return for Friday’s Heineken Cup encounter with Edinburgh.

MUNSTER and Leinster face off in Musgrave Park on Friday knowing that the victor will sit proudly atop the Magners League table for the guts of a month but that’s less important to Michael Cheika than bragging rights.

LEINSTER closed the gap on Magners League leaders Cardiff Blues with a victory over the depleted champions, the Ospreys in Swansea last night.

AFTER their injury woes last week in France, Leinster’s strength in depth will be tested to the full tonight as they return to Magners League duties against the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium.

LEINSTER return to Magners League duty against the Ospreys on Friday, having received mixed news concerning the injury worries picked up during Sunday’s Heineken Cup defeat in Toulouse.

THE FIRST game of any Heineken Cup campaign is always one to whet the appetite, but Shane Jennings has added reason to count down the days to Saturday’s game ever since Leinster were paired with the Leicester Tigers last June.

FELIPE CONTEPOMI is again a notable absentee from the Leinster squad to face Connacht in Friday night’s Magners League clash at the RDS (7.30pm).

Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy and Girvan Dempsey return to Leinster duty for the sold-out Magners League tie with Ulster on Friday at Ravenhill (kick off: 7.30pm).

LEINSTER and Ulster will endeavour to put the Ireland’s World Cup nightmare in the rear-view mirror on Friday night in Ravenhill — but the presence of Felipe Contepomi in the visitor’s dug-out will make that difficult.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL and Malcolm O’Kelly return to the Leinster fold this week for the first time since their World Cup disappointments.

THE blows just keep on coming for Irish rugby.

WHILE his “galacticos” had been labouring at the Rugby World Cup in France, Michael Cheika’s set of replacement backs have been cutting a swathe through the first two rounds of the Magners League.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika has named an unchanged squad to play Llanelli Scarlets in the Magners League at The RDS on Friday night (KO: 7.10pm).

KEITH GLEESON could join a select band tonight by earning his 100th cap for Leinster in their Magners league tie away to the Cardiff Blues — but he will have to come off the bench to do it.

CARDIFF Arms Park has been a graveyard for Leinster’s Magners League ambitions this past two seasons and coach Michael Cheika accepts that they will be up against it again when they return to the Welsh capital this Friday.

Centre Michael Berne has had to drop out of the Leinster squad to play the Cardiff Blues in the Arms Park on Friday (KO: 7.30pm).

WITH almost half their first team away in France and a revamped RDS providing the backdrop, this Magners League opener threatened to be a step into the unknown for Leinster.

Leinster 31 Borders 0

MICHAEL CHEIKA accepts that Leinster’s disappointing away form must improve if they are to claim the Magners League title next month.

STEPHEN KEOGH has been ruled out of the Leinster team for tonight’s crucial Magners League clash with Glasgow at Hughenden.

MALCOLM O’KELLY is named in the Leinster side to face Connacht in the Magners League at Donnybrook this afternoon (5.15pm).

WITH most of their all-singing, all-dancing back line away on international duty, Leinster will be looking to their oft-criticised pack to lead the way against Edinburgh in tonight’s Magners League tie at Donnybrook.

MALCOLM O’KELLY may return to full fitness next month with Leinster coach Michael Cheika yesterday refuting suggestions that the lock was suffering from a chronic, long-running knee injury.

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika admits Felipe Contepomi could make a sensational early return from injury for his side’s Magners League visit to Thomond Park next week.

DENIS Hickie makes his 50th Heineken Cup appearance for Leinster tomorrow, while Christian Warner gets the nod at out-half.

IT could be the most important decision he makes this season so it was no wonder yesterday that Michael Cheika refused to reveal who would wear Felipe Contepomi’s vacant shirt for the Heineken Cup encounter with Pool Two leaders Agen on Saturday.

LEINSTER can count themselves unlucky not to have doubled their pickings at a gale-lashed Ravenhill on Saturday after holding Magners League leaders Ulster to a draw following a game of real old-fashioned rugby.

REPLACING the injured Felipe Contepomi is a daunting task, Michael Cheika admitted yesterday.

SINCE turning professional during the summer, Luke Fitzgerald simply hasn’t had time to sit and reflect on the heights he has reached in such a remarkably short period of time.

IT may seem like a strange claim to make just days after losing to the previously pointless Borders, but Michael Cheika firmly believes his Leinster side is already better than last year’s model.

Coach Michael Cheika has spoken about Leinster’s need “to maintain their consistency” this week as the province make a less than glamorous trip to The Borders in the Magner’s League on Friday night.

LEINSTER have finalised their squad to face Munster in tomorrow night’s Magners League clash at Lansdowne Road (Setanta Sports, 7.30pm).

JAMIE HEASLIP is confident Leinster can put their poor start to the season behind them this evening by recording a much-needed win against Connacht in the Magners League at the Sportsground (6.30pm).

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL looks set to lead a host of Ireland internationals into action for the first time this season after being named in the Leinster squad to face Connacht in the Magners League at the Sportsground tomorrow.