Seasonal debut for O'Driscoll

Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan and Girvan Dempsey will make their seasonal debuts for Leinster against Connacht in the Magners League clash at The Sportsground on Friday evening (KO: 6.30pm).

Malcolm O’Kelly and Gordon D’Arcy will be kept in reserve on the bench. That means that Luke Fitzgerald retains his position on the right wing and Trevor Hogan and Owen Finegan will be in the second row.

Ronan McCormack, Niall Ronan and Bernard Jackman are among those on a solid looking list of replacements. Harry Vermaas will look to improve his throwing at hook and Reggie Corrigan comes into the front row at loose head prop.

LEINSTER (v Connacht):

15: Girvan Dempsey

14: Luke Fitzgerald

13: Brian O'Driscoll CAPTAIN

12: Shane Horgan

11: Denis Hickie

10: Felipe Contepomi

9: Chris Whitaker

1: Reggie Corrigan

2: Harry Vermaas

3: Will Green

4: Trevor Hogan

5: Owen Finegan

6: Stephen Keogh

7: Keith Gleeson

8: Jamie Heaslip

Replacements:

16: Ronan McCormack

17: Bernard Jackman

18: Malcolm O'Kelly

19: Niall Ronan

20: Guy Easterby

21: Christian Warner

22: Gordon D'Arcy.

The following is the Leinster 'A' team to play Connacht in Galwegians (KO: 3pm):

LEINSTER 'A' (v Connacht A):

15: Ross McCarron

14: Gary Brown

13: Fergus McFadden

12: Michael Berne

11: Stephen Grissing

10: Jonathan Sexton

9: Matthew D'Arcy

1: Johnny Wickham

2: Brian Blaney

3: Robert Sweeney

4: Adam Byrnes

5: Devin Toner

6: Cameron Jowitt

7: Sean O’Brien

8: Des Dillon CAPTAIN

Replacements:

16: Cian Healy

17: Keith Doyle

18: Gavin O'Meara

19: Ciaran Potts

20: Jim O'Donovan

21: Paul O'Donohoe

22: Andrew Dunne

23: Fionn Carr

24: James Power.