Positive injury news sees spirits high for London trip

Injury updates from Leinster’s UCD base have more often than not been dispiriting affairs this season but yesterday’s was refreshingly positive ahead of tomorrow’s Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final away to Wasps.

Gordon D’Arcy, a late withdrawal for Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 defeat to Ulster due to illness, has returned to training and is available for selection.

Fergus McFadden is another to have erased all doubts as to his wellbeing after concerns over a rib injury were eased after participating at the team’s Belfield training base.

With Brian O’Driscoll suspended, there is once again an opening in the midfield sector but it remains to be seen whether Eoin O’Malley is in a position to put up his hand.

The Old Belvedere clubman has been managed carefully since his return to action after long-term cruciate and leg injuries and sat out that top-of-the-table encounter against Ulster.

A decision on his fitness was due to be made late yesterday evening ahead of today’s team announcement but Leinster are lighter on options than they would like with Brendan Macken and Luke Fitzgerald also unavailable.

The absences of Eoin Reddan and, it seems all but certain, Jonathan Sexton will again compound matters but manager Guy Easterby believes Ian Madigan can continue to excel.

“The great thing about Mads is that he has the enthusiasm for playing. He feels he is learning every time he goes out. Therefore he is bouncing in and he does all his extras and he wants to be playing at the end of the week.

“We are lucky enough to have him and I don’t there would be any issue with him himself because he is just on his game at the minute and he is confident and he wants to be playing.”