Guy Easterby will partner Felipe Contepomi at half-back for Leinster against Edinburgh in Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash in Murrayfield, kick-off 3.30pm.
Bernard Jackman is named in an unchanged front row alongside Ollie le Roux and Stan Wright, while the only change to the pack that defeated Edinburgh sees Shane Jennings start in the back-row alongside Stephen Keogh and Jamie Heaslip.
Easterby will partner Contepomi at half-back after signing a short-term contract with the province earlier this week, and in doing so will make his 60th Leinster appearance (and 15th in the Heineken Cup).
Girvan Dempsey returns to the starting line-up and will start at full-back with Rob Kearney switching to the left wing. Dempsey is one of 13 full Ireland internationals in the squad, with another four having been capped at Ireland ‘A’ level.
Luke Fitzgerald has been named on a strong-looking replacements bench which includes the likes of Keith Gleeson and Jonathan Sexton.
Brian O’Driscoll captains the side.
LEINSTER XV v Edinburgh: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O’Driscoll (captain), 12 Gordon D’Arcy, 11 Rob Kearney, 10 Felipe Contepomi, 9 Guy Easterby, 1 Ollie le Roux, 2 Bernard Jackman, 3 Stan Wright, 4 Leo Cullen, 5 Malcolm O’Kelly, 6 Stephen Keogh, 7 Shane Jennings, 8 Jamie Heaslip.
Replacements: 16 Brian Blaney, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Cameron Jowitt, 19 Keith Gleeson, 20 Chris Keane, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Luke Fitzgerald.
