Leinster prepared for tougher assignment

Leinster v OspreysLEINSTER'S SEASON is cranking up nicely. As Munster and the Heineken Cup loom on their horizon, the visit of the Ospreys - Magners League champions v Anglo-Welsh Cup holders and two-time league champions in the last four years - is a serious step up from last week's rout of an under-strength Edinburgh.

The thought occurred last season that the provinces faced tougher assignments away to Toulouse and Clermont than when they played France. Similarly there's an argument for believing the Ospreys are at least as good as Wales when at full strength. That is partly why Warren Gatland initially drew so heavily from them.

Admittedly, they're not quite at full tilt this evening. Stellar names such as Shane Williams (expected to return next week against Ulster), Gavin Henson (who is on target for a return to action in the next fortnight following keyhole surgery on damaged ankle ligaments) and Mike Phillips are at various stages of recovery, as are Ben Lewis, Richard Hibbard and Lyndon Bateman. Gareth Owen and Cai Griffiths both suffered ankle ligament damage during last weekend's victory over Glasgow and scrumhalf Jamie Nutbrown is out for six to eight weeks.

Even so, recently promoted head coach Sean Holley has made an impressive statement about their strength in depth for what he labels "an intriguing match". There are a dozen changes in total from the team that won late on in Glasgow (Filo Tiatia is some impact man to have on the bench) in effectively reverting to all but two of the starting line-up that accounted for Cardiff by 32-10.

As that was sandwiched either side of away wins in Ireland and Scotland, the Ospreys arrive joint top of the table and were they to win tonight they would move a dozen or so points ahead of Leinster. Even with a game in hand, the champions don't want to be playing catch-up that early, as Michael Cheika concedes.

Expecting an ultra-physical challenge, the Leinster coach is happy to promote two of his eye-catching youngsters, Devin Toner and Sean O'Brien. "Both have shown great physicality so far and I like the five-two split on the bench for this game, because that gives us physicality on the bench."

Toner has come on a ton and O'Brien, the 20-year-old Tullow flanker, revels in the collisions and has good hands.

With Trevor Hogan (back) ruled out, Leo Cullen is primed for his seasonal reappearance to lead the side, and with Johnny Sexton (neck) also sidelined until next week, Isa Nacewa makes his first competitive start at outhalf. Shane Horgan also starts ahead of Rob Kearney this week in a seriously talented backline liberally sprinkled with gamebreakers.

Leinster have won their last three home fixtures against the Ospreys, and with only one defeat in their last 27 games in Dublin, they have the capacity to do so again.

Over 13,000 tickets have been sold for the match. Tickets are on sale at usual outlets and from the Ticketmaster outlet on Anglesea Road from 5pm.

Ticket holders for Leinster v Ospreys can gain free admission to Leinster under-20s v Munster under-20s at Donnybrook this evening (5.30pm).

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, F Contepomi, L Fitzgerald; I Nacewa, C Whitaker; R McCormack, B Jackman, S Wright, L Cullen (capt), D Toner, C Jowitt, S O'Brien, J Heaslip. Replacements: C Healy, J Fogarty, M O'Kelly, S Keogh, S Jennings, C Keane, R Kearney.

OSPREYS: L Byrne; T Bowe, S Parker, A Bishop, N Walker; J Hook, R Webb; D Jones, H Bennett, A Jones, A-W Jones, I Evans, J Thomas, S Tandy, R Jones (capt). Replacements: E Shervington, P James, I Gough, F Tiatia, R Wells, D Biggar, J Vaughton.

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU).

Previous meetings: (03-04) Ospreys 25 Leinster 36; Leinster 16 Ospreys 16; (04-05) Ospreys 11 Leinster 3; Leinster 12 Ospreys 16; (05-06) Ospreys 22 Leinster 20; Leinster 38 Ospreys 21; (06-07) Leinster 45 Ospreys 22; Ospreys 19 Leinster 17; (07-08) Ospreys 19 Leinster 26; Leinster 26 Ospreys 15.

Leading try scorers: Leinster: Luke Fitzgerald 3. Ospreys: James Hook 2.

Leading points scorers: Leinster: Felipe Contepomi 33. Ospreys: Hook 35.

Odds (Paddy Powers): 2/5 Leinster, 25/1 Draw, 15/8 Ospreys. Handicap betting ( Ospreys + 6pts) 4/5 Leinster, 20/1 Draw, evens Ospreys.

Forecast: Leinster to win.