Big guns boost for focused Leinster

Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has insisted his players are focusing only on Friday’s league trip to Edinburgh, rather than the do-or-die European matches beyond.

The Heineken Cup champions’ bid for a third straight European title could come to an end this month if they fail to collect maximum points from their remaining pool games against Scarlets and Exeter Chiefs. Yet as Schmidt prepares to welcome back a phalanx of international stars, including, he hopes, fit-again Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney and Brian O’Driscoll, the New Zealander believes Friday’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash at Murrayfield is just as important as Leinster aim to return to a top-four play-off spot.

After snapping a three-game losing streak in Europe and the league with a morale-boosting 17-0 win over Connacht on Saturday, Leinster lie fifth in the table, a point behind a Glasgow side which scored back-to-back wins over Edinburgh over Christmas.

“It means we’ve still got plenty of work to do but at least we’re close enough to be in the scramble for the semi-finals,” Schmidt said.

“It can be easy to allow your mind to drift because January is shaping up to be a big month for us in the context of the season across both competitions, but we’re very much focused on Edinburgh and what is sure to be another stiff test this weekend.”

Leinster will travel to Edinburgh boosted by the expected return of Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Sean O’Brien and Jonathan Sexton, all of whom missed the Connacht game while the Leinster management are “hopeful” that Fitzgerald, Kearney and O’Driscoll will also be in the frame for Thursday’s team announcement having continued to “make positive strides in their respective rehabilitation programmes”.

Also expected to return are forwards Shane Jennings, a late withdrawal from Saturday’s squad due to illness, and Kevin McLaughlin, who had been rested as a precaution following a shoulder knock in the defeat at Ulster the previous weekend.

Andrew Conway should be available to travel despite receiving a dead leg against Connacht while hooker Richardt Strauss is expected to return over the “coming weeks” and Isa Nacewa is due back either this week or next following deep tissue bruising to his arm in the home defeat to Clermont Auvergne.