Shawe starts for Leinster

Former Ulster lock Ed O'Donoghue could make his Leinster debut from the bench in a pre-season match against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road on Friday night (KO: 7.30pm).

Ballymena tight-head Simon Shawe will make his first appearance on trial in light of the long-term injury to Stan Wright.

Fergus McFadden, a replacement against London Wasps last weekend, partners Eoin O’Malley at centre for the trip to Leicester, with a new half-back pairing of Isaac Boss and Ian McKinley.

In the pack Nathan Hines starts in the second row alongside Devin Toner, with skipper Sean O’Brien forming a new back-row alongside Dominic Ryan and Stephen Keogh.

LEINSTER (v Leicester):

15: Luke Fitzgerald

14: David Kearney

13: Eoin O’Malley

12: Fergus McFadden

11: Niall Morris

10: Ian McKinley

9: Isaac Boss

1: Heinke van der Merwe

2: Richardt Strauss

3: Simon Shawe

4: Nathan Hines

5: Devin Toner

6: Dominic Ryan

7: Sean O’Brien CAPTAIN

8: Stephen Keogh.

REPLACEMENTS: Jason Harris-Wright, Jack McGrath, Stewart Maguire, Ed O’Donoghue, Paul Ryan, Paul O’Donohoe, Isa Nacewa, Michael Keating, Mariano Galarza, Eoin Sheriff, Ian Madigan, Eamonn Sheridan.