Kearney brothers on the mend for Leinster

Rob and Dave Kearney are among the Leinster players in line to return from injury ahead of Saturday’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Cardiff Blues in the RDS (6.30pm).

The Leinster medical team are hopeful Rob will have recovered from his back injury in time for the weekend’s game while younger brother Dave is expected to be in contention for selection having been sidelined since June.

The European champions report no major injury concerns arising from Saturday’s games in Wales, where the senior team recorded their second Pool victory in the Heineken Cup over the Scarlets, while the province’s ‘A’ team were narrowly edged by Pontypridd in Sardis Road.

Rhys Ruddock successfully came through his first run out of the season in Pontypridd while second row Quinn Roux (ankle) will continue to be assessed by the medical team.

Gordon D’Arcy put in a full 80 minutes in Wales, showing no ill effects after his recent rib injury, while Richardt Strauss received stitches to a cut on his chin.

Second row Tom Denton was a late withdrawal from the ‘A’ game with minor calf tightening but that will not affect his availability this week when the team is named at Friday lunchtime.