LEINSTER began the business end of their season with a six-try run-out against Treviso at Donnybrook last night.

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.

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.

LLANELLI moved back to the top of the Magners League after holding off a spirited second-half fightback from Leinster at Stradey Park.

PROMISING full-back Danny Riordan — he will be 22 on Monday — has received a timely birthday with his inclusion in the Connacht side to play Edinburgh Gunners in the Magners League at the Sportsground tomorrow night.

BRIAN O’MEARA will be back in Munster colours this season for the first time in six years, having been drafted into the squad on a part-time basis as scrum-half cover.

Edinburgh Gunners 20 Leinster 14

FORMER Munster second row Trevor Hogan looks set to make his Leinster debut in the Magners League against Edinburgh Gunners at Murrayfield tomorrow night and has been praised by coach Michael Cheika.

SHANE HORGAN accepts the chances of Leinster stealing the Celtic League title tonight are slim but, whatever the outcome, the winger is determined that he will leave for New Zealand next month with no regrets.

LEINSTER head to the Millennium Stadium earlier than anticipated but still in the hunt for some silverware.

ALAN QUINLAN could return to bolster Munster’s Celtic League bid, a month ahead of his expected return from injury.

LEINSTER will channel their Heineken Cup anger towards beating the Ospreys and cementing their spot at the summit of the Celtic League at Lansdowne Road tonight (7.30).

LEINSTER bid to bounce back from the disappointment of their Heineken Cup defeat by Munster when facing the Neath Swansea Ospreys in the Celtic League at Lansdowne Road on Saturday (7.35pm).

LEINSTER bid to bounce back from the disappointment of their Heineken Cup defeat by Munster when facing the Neath Swansea Ospreys in the Celtic League at Lansdowne Road on Saturday (7.35pm).

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).

Border Reivers 34 Leinster 35

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.

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.

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BRIAN O’MEARA will make his 100th appearance for Leinster when he lines up at out-half for tomorrow’s Celtic League clash against the Edinburgh Gunners at Donnybrook (3pm).

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

THEORETICALLY, it’s not quite win or bust for Leinster’s Heineken Cup ambitions when they travel to face Glasgow Warriors this weekend.

MICHAEL CHEIKA is giving out a positive spin, but the suspicion remains that the gods are conspiring against Leinster as they open their Heineken Cup campaign against Bath in the RDS on Saturday.

LEINSTER will be aiming to rediscover their winning touch against Cardiff Blues at the RDS today (5.30pm), just a week before they open another Heineken Cup campaign at the same venue.

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