O’Driscoll and Heaslip in for Leinster, Clermont make two changes

Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Heaslip have been named in the Leinster team for Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash with Clermont at the Aviva Stadium, although Heaslip’s inclusion is pending a late fitness test following the warm-up.

O’Driscoll resumes his partnership Gordon D’Arcy at centre while the back three of Shane Horgan, Fergus McFadden and Isa Nacewa is unchanged from last weekend’s game at the Stade Marcel Michelin.

Cian Healy replaces South African loosehead Heinke van der Merwe in the front row and starts alongside Richardt Strauss and Mike Ross, with Leo Cullen skippering the side. Sean O’Brien and Shane Jennings are named in the back row while young flanker Dominic Ryan, who impressed off the bench last weekend in France, is on standby to start should Heaslip fail his fitness test.

In that case, O’Brien would move to number eight with Ryan switching to blindside.

Eoin Reddan returns at scrum half in place of Isacc Boss to partner Jonathan Sexton at half-back.

Saturday’s game will be a record pool attendance for an Irish province with over 43,000 tickets now sold.

Meanwhile, Clermont coach Vern Cotter has named his side for the match in Dublin.

There are two changes in the pack from last weekend where Georgian tight-head Davit Zirahashvili replaces Argentina veteran Martin Scelzo while Julien Pierre comes in for fellow French lock Loic Jacquet.

Aurelian Rougerie leads the side from outside centre and faced an intriguing battle opposite Brian O’Driscoll.

Leinster: Isa Nacewa; Shane Horgan. Brian O’Driscoll, Gordon D’Arcy, Fergus McFadden, Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross; Leo Cullen (C), Nathan Hines, Sean O’Brien, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip/Dominic Ryan

Replacements: Jason Harris-Wright, Heinke van der Merwe, Clint Newland, Devin Toner, Dominic Ryan/Rhys Ruddock, Isaac Boss, Shaun Berne, David Kearney

Clermont: Anthony Floch; Napoleni Nalaga, Aurelian Rougerie (C), Gavin Williams, Julien Malzieu; Brock James, Morgan Parra; Thomas Domingo, Ti’i Paulo, Davit Zirahashvili; Julien Pierre, Thibault Privat, Julien Bonnaire, Alexandre Lapandry, Sione Lauaki

Replacments: Mario Ledesma, Lionel Faure, Clement Ric, Loic Jacquet, Elvis Vermeulen, Kevin Senio, Tasea Lavea, Benoit Baby