Jonathan Sexton will take the field for the first time since breaking two fingers in his left hand against South Africa in the final Test of the Guinness November Series when Leinster face the Glasgow Warriors at the RDS on Friday night (8pm).
Sexton was a key man in the clash of Six Nations Grand Slammers and the World and Tri-Nations champions, scoring all Ireland's points in a tense 15-10 victory at Croke Park.
The St Mary's man will be partenered by Eoin Reddan at scrum-half with Fergus McFadden and Brian O’Driscoll alongside in the centres. In the back three, Girvan Dempsey will line out at full-back with Rob Kearney on the left wing while Isa Nacewa is named in the other wing berth.
Sexton replaces Shaun Berne, who deputised during his absence and is named on the bench this time. Paul O'Donoghue and Simon Keogh are the other backs replacements.
In the pack, Shane Jennings returns after a 12-week suspension and will captain the side from openside wing-forward with blindside wing-forward Kevin McLaughlin and number eight Jamie Heaslip completing a strong looking back row.
6’10 lineout specialist Devin Toner and Scotland international Nathan Hines are the second row pairing while Cian Healy, John Fogarty and Stan Wright named in the front row. Bernard Jackman is the substitute hooker with recent South African import Richardt Strauss missing out on the bench spot. Prop Mike Ross, second row Malcolm O'Kelly, and back-rower Stephen Keogh are also named on the bench.
Irish internationals Leo Cullen, Sean O'Brien, Shane Horgan and Gordon D’Arcy are among the front line players left out of the match-day 22.
The match is expected to be played despite the weather conditions after a pitch inspection took place at the RDS this morning.
However, a Leinster Rugby statement said that the playing surface and supporter areas would continue to be monitored and that a plan regarding proposed new access routes into the ground for supporters would be drawn up.
Close to 14,000 tickets have been sold for the match.
LEINSTER side to face the Glasgow Warriors at the RDS on Friday, 8 January at the RDS (8pm):
15: Girvan Dempsey
14: Isa Nacewa
13: Brian O'Driscoll
12: Fergus McFadden
11: Rob Kearney
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Eoin Reddan
1: Cian Healy
2: John Fogarty
3: Stan Wright
4: Devin Toner
5: Nathan Hines
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings (c)
8: Jamie Heaslip
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Bernard Jackman
17: Mike Ross
18: Malcolm O'Kelly
19: Stephen Keogh
20: Paul O'Donohoe
21: Shaun Berne
22: Simon Keogh
