James Ryan is in line his first appearance since the end of the Six Nations after being named on the Leinster bench for tomorrow's BKT URC clash against Zebre.
Table-toppers Leinster will guarantee first seed for the play-offs if they beat the Italians at Aviva Stadium (5.15pm, live on RTÉ News and RTÉ Player).
Six players who will make the trip to Australia with the British and Irish Lions this summer — Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Rónan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, James Lowe and Garry Ringrose — start, with another three on the bench.
Ryan, who was named in Andy Farrell's Lions squad yesterday, is set to make his first appearance in blue since January after recovering from a calf injury to take his place among the replacements alongside fellow Lions tourists Andrew Porter and Jamison Gibson-Park.
Ciarán Frawley has been named among the replacements and is in line to earn his 100th Leinster cap.
Conan captains the team from number 8 with van der Flier and Ryan Baird on the flanks behind a second row of Joe McCarthy and academy forward Diarmuid Mangan.
Jack Boyle and Thomas Clarkson will pack down either side of Kelleher in a new-look front row.
Luke McGrath comes in at scrum-half alongside Sam Prendergast at 10, while Jordie Barrett partners Ringrose in the centre.
Lowe joins Jimmy O'Brien on the wings, with Jamie Osborne coming in at full-back to complete the starting team.
Lions trio Ryan, Porter and Gibson-Park help make up a formidable bench.
John McKee provides cover at hooker with Rabah Slimani the other front row option and James Culhane covering the back row.
Robbie Henshaw has been named among the replacements.
Leinster: Jamie Osborne; Jimmy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Jordie Barrett, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath; Jack Boyle, Rónan Kelleher, Thomas Clarkson; Joe McCarthy, Diarmuid Mangan; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan (capt).
Replacements: John McKee, Andrew Porter, Rabah Slimani, James Ryan, James Culhane, Jamison Gibson-Park, Ciarán Frawley, Robbie Henshaw.
Meanwhile, Bundee Aki (above) will make his 150th appearance for Connacht in tomorrow evening's match against Edinburgh (7.35pm).
The Ireland and Lions centre forms a centre partnership with Hugh Gavin.
Jack Carty, who signed a one-year deal with the club during the week, misses out due to a minor ankle injury, so JJ Hanrahan starts at 10 in what is his final home game for the club.
The back three consists of full-back Santiago Cordero and wingers Shayne Bolton and Finn Treacy, with Ben Murphy at scrum-half.
In the forwards, the experience front rowers Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham all return after missing the last game against the Lions, while Josh Murphy and Darragh Murray make up the second row partnership.
Cian Prendergast captains the side on the flank, with Conor Oliver on the opposite side and Sean Jansen at number 8.
Earlier Connacht confirmed the signing of Sam Gilbert from Highlanders. The utility back will join the club at the end of the season.
The province has confirmed the list of players who depart at the end of the season.
As previously announced, JJ Hanrahan and Andrew Smith will move to Munster, while Adam McBurney and John Porch were granted early releases from their contracts during the season to take up playing opportunities elsewhere.
Santiago Cordero, Conor Oliver and Piers O'Conor will also leave the club.
Cordero arrived in the summer of 2023 and recovered from a serious knee injury during pre-season training to play 20 times since his return 12 months ago.
Oliver joined the club in 2020 and has gone on to make 95 appearances for the province, scoring 10 tries.
O'Conor has accepted a playing opportunity elsewhere after 17 caps and 3 tries since his signing from Bristol last year.
Connacht: Santiago Cordero; Shayne Bolton, Hugh Gavin, Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy; JJ Hanrahan, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Josh Murphy, Darragh Murray; Cian Prendergast (capt), Conor Oliver, . Sean Jansen.
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade, Cathal Forde, David Hawkshaw.
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Watch Munster v Ulster in the URC on Friday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app and listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra
Watch Leinster v Zebre on Saturday from 5.10pm on the RTÉ News Channel and RTÉ Player. Listen to updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
