There is uncertainty over the fitness of Leinster's two first choice props CJ van der Linde and Stan Wright ahead of their crucial Pool 2 Heineken Cup encounter with London Wasps at Twickenham on Saturday.

SHANE JENNINGS hopes to find out tonight if he will be eligible for Leinster’s crunch Heineken Cup tie against Wasps at Twickenham on Saturday after the province decided to appeal the three-week ban handed to the flanker last Tuesday.

THE lowest point in Leinster’s season came in Castres before Christmas when they lost a game they ought to have won. Coincidence or not, they have won three games since they could just as easily have lost.

Munster's Frederico Pucciarello, Leinster's Ollie Le Roux and Ulster's Justin Harrison have been named in a 30-man Barbarians squad for games against Belgium, Ireland and England.

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL has been included in the Leinster squad to face Edinburgh in the Magners League tie at Murrayfield on Friday but a final decision on the centre’s fitness won’t be made until tomorrow at lunchtime.

THE good news for Leinster fans is that Brian O’Driscoll has been included in the 26-man squad to face Munster at the RDS on Saturday.

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.

Captain Brian O'Driscoll has been passed fit to play for Leinster at home to Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup at The RDS on Friday night.

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.

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).

New Zealand international Taine Randell has been appointed tour captain for the Barbarians.

Six Irish players have been named on the Barbarians team for the three-match tour of Britain. Two Irish forwards have been selected, and four backs.

The Barbarians have made 15 changes to their starting line-up from the team which beat England at Twickenham on yesterday.