Stars return for Brive battle

LUKE FITZGERALD is the only front-line player ruled out of Leinster’s big Heineken Cup clash with French side Brive at the RDS on Saturday (6pm).

As Fitzgerald begins a crucial part of rehab after rupturing knee tendons, Leinster’s head coach Michael Cheika yesterday announced a clean bill of health except for South African prop CJ van der Linde (calf muscle strain).

That means Jonathan Sexton is back to full health after breaking his hand in Ireland’s victory against South Africa in November and that Shane Jennings, back from suspension, is straining at the leash to get his first game in 13 weeks.