O’Kelly and Gleeson on wounded list
But both Gleeson (ankle) and O'Kelly (back strain) are expected to make the cut as Leinster go in search of the big result that could boost their chances of advancing to the knock-out stages of the tournament.
Coach Matt Williams had more problems than injuries in the last couple of days. The Leinster Branch video equipment was stolen from Anglesea Road and, yesterday, the squad was unable to carry out video analysis on their French rivals.
Still, after two victories over Bristol and Swansea, a triumph away to Montferrand could give Williams' team a great chance of reaching the quarter-final, with two home games out of three to follow.
However, former England and Leicester Tigers hooker Richard Cockerill, now playing at the sharp end for Montferrand, has warned the Celtic League champions not to expect any favours.
He resumes acquaintances with Leinster at Parc des Sports Marcel-Michelin on Saturday banking on his new team blowing "hot" on the big day.
"We have a lot of hard work to do in the Heineken Cup after slipping up at Bristol where we could have won the match," said Cockerill.
"And it doesn't get much tougher than home and away to Leinster, who are one of the favourites to win the Heineken Cup. They had six forwards in the Irish team that played Argentina so that says a lot about their squad.
"I've played in Donnybrook with Leicester we won once and lost once and it's not the most pleasant place to play on a wet and windy Friday night, especially with the French mentality of not fancying away games a lot of the time.
"French teams blow hot and cold all the time they can be a different team from one week to the next but, on our day, we can beat anyone. We have had some good performances this season against Stade Francais and Swansea, and we have to win in front of our 13,000 passionate fans on Saturday.
"Our problem is that we had 12 new players and two new coaches at the start of the season. You can't buy a team overnight, it takes time. Teams doing well in France at the moment like Toulouse, Agen, Biarritz have been together for three or four years."
Cockerill played in the 1997 Heineken Cup final against Brive. His coach Laurent Travers and Montferrand team-mate Sebastien Viarson were in the opposing side that day.
"The Heineken Cup final was the biggest thing in domestic rugby even then and it would be nice to get to there again with ASM but we've got a lot of work to do if that's going to happen," added Cockerill.
Montferrand coach Travers remembers the two finals he played with Brive with joy.
"To play two Heineken Cup finals is really something special, something to treasure," he said. "It is a huge competition and, once you've tasted those heights and that success, as a coach all you want is to get there again.
"However, after our defeat to Bristol, we are on an uphill climb. Leinster have more than half the Irish team in their side. They are a very strong team while we still have a fair number of absences to our squad.
"We are looking to produce a huge match on Saturday in front of our crowd at Marcel Michelin as they haven't seen us there for quite a while.
"We must win at all costs but we must watch out for Leinster we have a lot more to fear of them than they have of us." For their part, Leinster are wary of the potent Vulcans back division, team manager Ken Ging declaring: "Montferrand have got an extremely dangerous back-line, all of them internationals, and they are a quality side. We are expecting an extremely tough game.
"It is a huge game for both teams but obviously there is more pressure on the home teams on these occasions and, if we can win over there on Saturday, that would be a major plus for us and a major minus for them.
"Wing Denis Hickie will be back for the match after spending the mandatory three-weeks rest after suffering concussion and fly-half Nathan Spooner, who has been playing club rugby with St Mary's, as well as 35 minutes of our friendly against Borders last weekend, is in the running for selection, although he may still struggle to make it in time for this one."
Eric Miller is still struggling with injuries to shoulder, hand and hamstring, and he faces a late fitness test. Adrian McCullen will stay in the side if Miller is unavailable.
The Leinster team won't be finalised until Thursday but this is the line up coach Matt Williams is most likely to pick:
G. Dempsey, D. Hickie, B. O'Driscoll, S. Horgan, G. D'Arcy, C. Warner, B.O'Meara, R. Corrigan (captain), S. Byrne, E. Byrne, L. Cullen, M. O'Kelly, A. McCullen/E. Miller, V. Costello, K. Gleeson.
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