Leinster waiting on D'Arcy and Contepomi

Celtic League: Leinster coach Michael Cheika undoubtedly knows the composition of his backline this morning but the official line is that there will be a late decision taken on the fitness of Gordon D'Arcy and outhalf Felipe Contepomi.

Ideally the Australian would like D'Arcy to play as it suggests that the threequarter line that starts tonight against Connacht will be the same one that takes on Wasps at Adams Park in the Heineken Cup quarter-final this week. Cheika won't take a risk on D'Arcy and so Christian Warner is primed to step into the inside centre's role.

Contepomi is nursing a knee injury and stress levels, the latter associated with having sat his final medical exams yesterday. Jonathan Sexton would deputise. It is the presence of Kieran Lewis though at outside centre that is arguably the more interesting selection issue.

He's been asked to take over the role of Leinster and Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll, and while Cheika could make any number of switches for the Wasps game, it seems logical that the St Mary's College player will inherit the number 13 jersey for the next fortnight at least.

The Leinster coach, while acknowledging the magnitude of O'Driscoll's absence, has no qualms about Lewis's ability to fill that role. "I think 13 is his (Lewis) slot and that's where he wants to play. He's got a lot of pace and is a good finisher.

"He's working very hard on his handling because he knows that's an area in which he has to improve to play in the 13 area. He's made great strides in the last six to eight weeks in the way he has approached things. He is going to be a big loss for us (a reference to the player's summer move to Munster). He's really come on as a player. I understand why he has to go but I think it'll be a big loss.

"When he does get his opportunities, he usually makes the most of them. I have no hesitation in bringing him into the team. He's starting to read the game a little bit more and not just fill a role, playing more heads-up football, which is what those other chaps, Brian in particular, are so good at doing."

On the O'Driscoll situation, Cheika admitted: "He's a big player to lose in attack and defence. I'd like to think that our collective has grown now to the point that we are bigger than the individual. I don't think there is ever a player I have put into a jumper that I'd had a doubt about.

"As much as he's a big loss, and you'd be naive not to point out that he's a massive loss, I am confident in the squad in the way that we are approaching our football; we can overcome that."

Leinster welcome back Malcolm O'Kelly to the secondrow after a two month spell on the sidelines while there are further issues yet to be confirmed about the composition of the bench.

Gavin Duffy makes his first appearance for Connacht since rejoining them from Harlequins three weeks ago. Daniel Riordan will partner Gavin Williams in the centre while Conor McPhillips has recovered from injury as has captain and second row Andrew Farley.

Leinster traditionally find Connacht to be obdurate opponents but with the carrot of finishing top of the unofficial interprovincial title and being forewarned about the gritty nature of the contest, the home side - they will break the Magners League record of 14 consecutive home victories if they win tonight - should have just a little bit too much, whatever the final selection.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, K Lewis, G D'Arcy or C Warner, D Hickie; F Contepomi or J Sexton, C Whitaker; S Wright, B Jackman, W Green; T Hogan, M O'Kelly; S Keogh, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: F Pala'amo or R Corrigan, B Blaney, O Finegan, C Jowitt, G Easterby, AN Other, L Fitzgerald or R Kearney.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; D Yapp, D Riordan, G Williams, C McPhillips; P Warwick, C Keane; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop; D Gannon, A Farley (capt); J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements: J Fogarty, R Hogan, M Swift, M Lacey, M McHugh, J Hearty, D Slemen.

Referee: P Fitzgibbon(Ireland).

Leading points scorers: Leinster- Felipe Contepomi 122. Connacht- Mark McHugh 101.

Leading try scorers: Leinster- Jamie Heaslip, Denis Hickie 6 each. Connacht- Matt Mostyn 4.

Verdict: Leinster to win.