GALWAY secondrow Damien Brown has been with Leinster four months now but, in a playing sense, he is still getting to know his team-mates.

The 31-year-old has brought a strong physical presence to the province’s pack and played 55 minutes last week against Montpellier. But he arrived in Dublin when 14 of the Leinster squad were in New Zealand with Ireland, and was one of the early season team baby-sitters.

The last few weeks have been spent acquainting himself with new, if well-known faces around the training grounds at UCD. As a consequence he acknowledges Leinster remain in something of a state of flux facing into Sunday’s Heineken Cup second round tie against Glasgow, who have already beaten them at home this season.

Glasgow arrived when all eyes were on the World Cup and Leinster coach Joe Schmidt was mixing and matching his players week to week, often digging into the Academy. Still, the Scottish side emerged 19-23 winners, Isa Nacewa scoring all the Leinster points but for an Ian Madigan try.

There is a strong sense that Leinster are still finding their feet.

“I think so, it’s only natural,” Browne concedes. “Take it from my perspective, I’ve only got to know some of the lads. I only got to meet them three weeks ago. It’s surreal they were my team-mates for three or four months and I’ve only got to meet them.

“It was my first time on Saturday playing with some, so it’s going to take a while.”

A draw away to a French team is never to be scoffed at, especially in the first game. And while Glasgow arrive with a swagger, they too come back much changed, with their Scotland squad players Chris Cuisiter, Ruaridh Jackson, Graeme Morrison, John Barclay, Richie Gray, Moray Low, Dougie Hall and Alastair Kellock, like the Leinster players, dovetailing back into the club side.

“It’s very fresh in our minds, they were the ones who took away a very long and proud home record,” says Browne of the defeat. “We are very wary of them but we’ve put the concentration on ourselves this week. Our first Heineken Cup home game makes it a big occasion, especially with the lads winning it last season.

“You can’t afford to lose your first Heineken Cup game at home or you’re out of it.

“They’re actually quite a clinical outfit, very solid in the set-piece and they have a very good lineout. Their scrum is good. They’re definitely improving. It was my first experience playing against them for many a year and they are a totally different side to what I remember.

“They have a very good back five, Gray and Kellock are a formidable combo. Gray has been playing good stuff any time I’ve seen him, while Kellock leads the line very well. Gray’s about 6ft 9in and 120-odd kilos. They are big and they’re quite a physical team, especially at the tackle area. We know if we’re not accurate at the set-piece we’ll be in trouble there.”

The Leinster squad trained yesterday afternoon ahead of Sunday’s clash at the RDS, where the kick-off is at 12.45pm.

Schmidt, is thankful for having better luck with injuries than in the opening weeks. Aside from the usual bumps and bruises management has reported no major injury concerns.

Flanker Seán O’Brien, who retired from the Montpellier game midway through the second half with a cut above his eye, returned and finished out the match. Schmidt is also hopeful prop Cian Healy will be available for selection after missing last week with a “tweaked glute”.

Given the likely physical battle, Healy’s return would be welcome on the loosehead side, while hooker Seán Cronin could also be shouting loudly for a start.

Not only was his contribution eye-catching on Saturday, he crucially touched down for his maiden try in Leinster colours on his Heineken Cup debut.

“We were made well aware during the week what the aspirations are for this group,” says Browne.

“Everyone knows where we’re going. We’re aware of the responsibilities on us.

“In one way it’s (last week’s match) two points lost and maybe a win that got away. Another way of looking at is, it was a good place to go and get a draw in a very tough a physical encounter.”

And there certainly is another one of those in store.