LEINSTER will be at full strength for their Heineken Cup semi-final dress rehearsal against Llanelli Scarlets in the Celtic League at Lansdowne Road tomorrow night (7.10).

MICHAEL CHEIKA has challenged his players to prove their dismal show in Wales two weeks ago was a one-off when Leinster take on Connacht in the Celtic League on Sunday.

AFTER the emotional turmoil of Paris and the shock of Mike Ruddock’s departure there may be a temptation to gloss over this weekend’s round of Celtic League fixtures.

MICHAEL CHEIKA reiterated his commitment to nurturing Irish talent in the wake of Leinster signing Australian scrum-half Chris Whitaker from the NSW Waratahs in a two-year deal.

Leinster 62 Borders 14

MICHAEL CHEIKA has dismissed two recent sideline incidents involving himself and assistant coach David Knox as storms in a teacup and claims the Australian pair will not be altering their style of management.

LEINSTER resist the urge to rest key players for Saturday’s Celtic League visit to Stradey Park, despite their fast-approaching make or break Heineken Cup fixture with Glasgow.

DENIS HICKIE is poised to make his return to the Leinster panel after spending the last two months on the sidelines with a dislocated right fibula.

ULSTER coach Mark McCall has opted to retain Kieran Campbell at scrum-half for Monday’s Celtic League clash against Leinster at Ravenhill (5pm).

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika has allayed fears Brian O'Driscoll's long-awaited return to action over the festive season may be stalled by a niggling back injury.

THEY say good things come in threes. If that maxim holds true then Leinster will touch down in Dublin Airport late on Saturday night with another Heineken Cup win over Bourgoin in the bag.

Leinster 53 Bourgoin 7

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika has targeted two wins from their back-to-back Heineken Cup duels with Bourgoin.

GORDON D’ARCY will partner Shane Horgan in the centre for Leinster’s critical trip to Galway to play Connacht in the Celtic League tomorrow.

IT’S been a punishing three weeks for Gordon D’Arcy and Shane Horgan but Leinster coach Michael Cheika will have few qualms about asking them to don their battle fatigues again against Connacht on Saturday.

INJURIES and international duty has weakened the Leinster squad for the visit of Edinburgh Gunners to Donnybrook on Sunday.

ANTHONY FOLEY looks certain to lead Ireland against the All Blacks at Lansdowne Road on Saturday week. The Munster captain should take over in the absence of injured Brian O’Driscoll and Paul O’Connell.

Coach Michael Cheika has gone for an extended 28-man Leinster Squad ahead of their trip to Munster on Saturday.

Leinster 30 Ulster 23

LEINSTER coach Michael Cheika will hope his new charges have shaken off the cobwebs that cost them victory last week in Wales when they take on the Glasgow Warriors in Donnybrook in the Celtic League on Saturday.

Ireland Coach Niall O'Donovan has named two new caps in the starting team to play Japan in the first test of their Japanese tour in Osaka this Sunday.

Ireland coach Eddie O’Sullivan has named an unchanged side for Saturday’s potential RBS 6 Nations title decider against Wales.

LEINSTER have included Eric Miller and Guy Easterby in a 26 man Celtic League squad to face Edinburgh in Murrayfield on Saturday (7.45pm).

Munster out-half Ronan O'Gara has been included in the Irish team for this Sunday's Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome.

Leinster 55 Gwent Dragons 3

ALTHOUGH Frankie Sheahan is a late defection due to a calf injury, Munster face Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park this evening (5.30pm) confident of a record-equalling 10th successive victory in the Celtic League.

Coach Declan Kidney has named an unchanged team to complete Leinster’s Pool 2 programme at home to Benetton Treviso on Saturday.

Ireland international Malcolm O'Kelly has recovered from a groin injury to take his place in Lenister's second row as Declan Kidney's side strives to retain their unbeaten record in the Heineken Cup at Bath on Saturday.

Leinster 9 Ulster 8

Leinster coach Declan Kidney will take the opportunity to rest some of his front line players in the Celtic League at Cardiff on Saturday.

Leinster 92 Bourgoin 17

Coach Declan Kidney has gone for the southern hemisphere combination of David Holwell and Felipe Contepomi at out-half and inside-centre respectively for Leinster's date with Bourgoin in the Heineken Cup at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

IRELAND, conquerors of South Africa, aim to continue their impressive momentum against the USA at Lansdowne Road this afternoon, (1pm).

International duo Eric Miller and Girvan Dempsey have displaced Gary Brown and Aidan McCullen on the Leinster side to meet Bath in Pool 2 of the Heineken Cup at Lansdowne Road on Saturday evening.

Benetton Treviso 9, Leinster 25

Declan Kidney had sprung a few minor selection surprises for Leinster's opening Heineken Cup encounter with Benetton Treviso in Italy on Saturday.

Leinster coach Declan Kidney has resisted the temptation to meet leaders The Ospreys with his first choice side at St Helen’s in the Celtic League on Friday night (7.05pm).

Former Wellington Hurricane David Holwell will be asked to improve Leinster's back play on his début against Edinburgh at Donnybrook on Sunday.

Declan Kidney has brought many of his big-hitters on board for Leinster's treacherous visit to the Newport-Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday.