Hickie fit to take position on the bench

Denis Hickie is expected to play his first competitive game since the 2003 World Cup pool stages after being named amongst the Leinster substitutes ahead of Saturday's Celtic League match against Munster at Donnybrook.

The 28-year-old winger has been sidelined since rupturing his achilles tendon in Ireland's one-point defeat by Australia in Melbourne last November.

His return comes on the back of further good news for Leinster and Ireland as last season's outstanding international player in the Six Nations, Gordon D'Arcy, has agreed a new deal with the IRFU that sees him staying put until after the 2007 World Cup.

Declan Kidney resisted temptation to tamper with the side that tamed Ulster so, despite increased options, the back row, front row and scrumhalf positions all remain unchanged.

With the pre-season of Guy Easterby and Eric Miller now complete, they must be content on the bench as Brian O'Riordan and Ciaran Potts drop out of the 22. Also, England A prop Ricky Nebbitt comes into the squad.

In contrast to Leinster, Munster have decided to start all their available internationals. Frankie Sheahan, David Wallace and John Hayes all start their first games of the season. This means three more young potentials must cool their heals on the sideline as Stephen Keogh, Frankie Roche and Jerry Flannery are dropped.

However, Denis Leamy is retained but switched to the blindside flank. Jim Williams captains the side with the only other change seeing Eoin Redden in the number nine jersey ahead of Mike Prendergast.

Looking ahead and the ERC announced yesterday that Munster's final pool match of the Heineken European Cup against NEC Harlequins is to take place at Twickenham on the weekend of January 14th-16th. It will be Munster's first return to the scene of their heartbreaking 2000 final defeat to Northampton.

Their now famous travelling support is expected to ensure the previous record attendance for the pool stages of 23,463, from last year's Leinster and Cardiff match at Lansdowne Road, should be comfortably surpassed.

The move, ratified yesterday by the RFU, was prompted due to planned renovations of the West Stand at Harlequins' home ground the Stoop.

Meanwhile, the Sportsground in Galway is the venue for the other "interprovincial" encounter this weekend as Connacht host Ulster. The game marks David Humphreys' 100th cap for the northern province.

Coach Mark McCall clearly targeted the midfield for a makeover as Kiwi Paul Steinmetz is dropped to allow Kevin Maggs to come in at inside centre.

McCall has, however, largely kept faith with his pack as the only change sees Matt McCullough for Rowan Frost.

Connacht will select today with injury doubts surrounding Tom Tierney and John O'Sullivan.

A testimonial dinner in honour of Jeremy Davidson will take place in Belfast's Europa hotel on September 29th.

The two-time British and Irish Lion (1997 and 2001) had his career cruelly cut short by injury and now coaches Dungannon. Tickets are £75 per person. Further information can be got from ulsterrugby.ie.

ULSTER (v Connacht): B Cunningham; T Bowe, J Bell, K Maggs, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, N Doak; S Best, P Shields, R Moore; M Mustchin, M McCullough; A Ward (capt), N Best, R Wilson. Replacements: N Brady, R McCormack, R Frost, C Feather, K Campbell, P Wallace, P Steinmetz.

LEINSTER (v Munster): J Norton; J McWeeney, C Warner, D Quinlan, G Brown; D McAllister, B O'Meara; E Byrne, G Hickie, P Coyle; L Cullen (capt), B Gissing; A McCullen, S Jennings, D Dillon. Replacements: R Nebbett, D Blaney, E Miller, V Costello, G Easterby, K Lewis, D Hickie.

MUNSTER (v Leinster): C Cullen; J Kelly, S Payne, J Holland, A Horgan; P Burke, E Reddan; G McIlwham, F Sheahan, J Hayes; T Bowman, T Hogan; D Leamy, D Wallace, J Williams (capt). Replacements: J Flannery, F Roche, D Ryan, S Keogh, M Prendergast, R Henderson, J Storey.