Leinster look set to rest their frontline players for Saturday's BKT United Rugby Championship semi-final against Munster at the Aviva Stadium (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player), with attack coach Andrew Goodman saying they'll be backing their squad depth.
With just over a week to go until the Heineken Champions Cup final against La Rochelle in Dublin next week, the province are unlikely to take any chances with their team selection this weekend.
Rónan Kelleher has returned to full training and is available for selection, and could be involved in this weekend's semi-final to build up game time, having been sidelined since mid-March with a shoulder injury. Scott Penny is a doubt, with the flanker following the return to play protocols for concussion.
James Lowe and Robbie Henshaw have stepped up their workload, with both players missing the recent wins against Toulouse and Sharks due to respective calf and quad issues. However, it seems unlikely they will be rushed back for the meeting with Munster on Saturday.
Goodman says James Ryan is "progressing really well", having been pictured wearing a protective boot at the Aviva Stadium for Saturday's quarter-final win against the Sharks, while Garry Ringrose and Josh van der Flier were among those who were also rested last week.
And while the Leinster assistant wouldn't commit to any specifics around their selection policy this week, it looks likely there will be further squad rotation.
"It's about getting fresh bodies out there," the New Zealander (below) said.
"If there's guys with niggles, we're backing our depth, there are guys who are fully fit to go out there and do a good job. There's been an amazing contribution from the whole squad right throughout both competitions, we've got guys who are really hungry to get out there and perform."
Ahead of the victory against the Sharks, head coach Leo Cullen had urged their wider squad players to make their chance in the team count, and Goodman echoed that challenge this week, saying it is an opportunity for players to put themselves into the mix for the Champions Cup final next week.
"We're really comfortable that we've got the selection right for this week, and there's an opportunity that if guys play well they can put their hand up for next week. There are still positions up for grabs.
"It's been one of the things I've been really impressed about since I came over here. The competitive nature of training where guys get the opportunity through the 15 on 15 at training, putting their hand up. As coaches we really look back at training and see how guys are performing and people get rewarded, not just about their performances on Saturdays, but how they're training through the week as well."
Leinster have won 10 of their last 11 meetings with Munster, two of those coming this season.
In October, they survived a brief scare against injury-ravaged opponents to come out on top 27-13, before edging a closely fought derby 20-19 at Thomond Park on St Stephen's Day.
An unbeaten tour in South Africa, followed by a dogged 14-5 win away to Glasgow Warriors on Saturday evening saw Munster book their place in the last four of the URC, and Goodman says they're looking like a team in determined form.
"What they're doing well is contesting in all the contacts. It's part of their DNA, being strong around the breakdown, both sides of the ball.
"They never go away, they're really efficient with their attack, they've been exiting really well with their kick and chase game and they've got a lot more variation through their attacking game. They have multiple threats throughout the field and really good players as well. There's lots of stuff to focus on, but the contact area is a big one for us.
"Some of those trips, when you're away for two weeks like they did in Africa, can be the best time for a team. You can go away, get tight on tour, and a couple of performances together, they did very well over there, and the win away in Glasgow would have done wonders for their squad.
"I'm sure there will be a lot of red in the crowd coming up to the Aviva this week."
Follow Leinster v Munster via our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, watch live on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player, or listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
Follow Stormers v Connacht via our live blog on RTÉ.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, or listen to commentary on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
