World Cup qualifier: The Irish management are expected to announce the same starting line-up and replacements for the second and concluding World Cup qualifier against Georgia at Lansdowne Road next Saturday.
The 22-man squad, minus the four additional players who were brought along to Siberia (Marcus Horan, Donnacha O'Callaghan, Justin Bishop and Mark McHugh) had a lie-in followed by recovery work in the gym at their Co Wicklow base yesterday, and the side to play Georgia will be confirmed after a training session in Dr Hickey Park Greystones this morning.
Although Shane Horgan proved his fitness when returning to Leinster's colours in their Celtic League defeat to Cardiff last Saturday, Eric Miller did not, and, either way, there's unlikely to be any changes to the squad.
There's a strong case for resting some front-line players and utilise the squad more, as was the case in the back-to-back 1998 qualifiers against Georgia and Romania, and all the more so after such an arduous trip to Siberia.
However, after two somewhat uninspiring efforts, the need for a good, confidence-building performance next Saturday as well as a win probably supersedes that notion.
Meanwhile, Paul O'Connell and Anthony Horgan are both included in Munster's Heineken Cup squad although a marked absentee is David Wallace.
All three players underwent corrective surgery last month and, while it is expected that O'Connell and Horgan will be available for rounds three and four, Wallace is unlikely to be fit until the knock-out stages.
Commenting on the squad formation, team manager Jerry Holland explained that: "The medical information available to us right now is that Paul O'Connell and Anthony Horgan should be available for the latter games of the Pool stages, but that David Wallace will not be back in training until the New Year."
O'Connell and Horgan were not included in the Celtic League squad, nor was Martin Cahill, but Cahill is also well on the way to recovery and he features in the squad.
Although Wallace's absence is a significant setback, this has been partially offset at least by the performance of Denis Leamy at openside in Munster's win over Swansea last Friday night.
Leamy made an eye-catching competitive debut and is highly rated by Munster coach Alan Gaffney.
Also new to the Munster squad are Mossie Lawlor, Simon Kerr and Dominic Malone, while Eddie Halvey returns after a two-year sojourn with London Irish.
One notable absentee from this season's campaign will, of course, be Peter Clohessy.
The old warrior had played in all of Munster's previous eight Heineken Cup campaigns, but has since retired, and it's been confirmed that the mooted four-month move to Toulouse has not come about.
Had the 54-times capped Irish prop initially accepted Toulouse's offer rather than baulk at the prospect of coming out of retirement, before then reopening negotiations, then he'd assuredly already be playing there.
As it is, he's not exactly crestfalled over the combined change of heart.
"I'd looked on it as a bit of a holiday anyway to be honest, but having talked it over with my wife again I'm just as happy to stay in Limerick and to stay in retirement."
It is hoped that Leinster will have included the recuperating Nathan Spooner when they formally confirm their Euro squad tomorrow though Matt Williams has more pressing thoughts on his mind and admits that the defending champions will probably have to win their three remaining pool games in the Celtic League to reach the quarter-finals after three losses in a row.
"We always knew it was going to be difficult for us this season because of the demands on our international players. The biggest problem we have had is that we have only had our top players for six days," said Williams.
"We've had to make 10 changes almost every week and that hasn't allowed us to develop any continuity. It is very hard to develop when you are losing." We couldn't really hope to win without nine players.
"There was plenty of courage and commitment from a young side, but I was disappointed with some of the decision making.
"We will have to win everything now if we want to squeeze into the quarter-finals. We always knew it was going to be tight, but losing at home to Connacht wasn't really in the budget."
Leinster have a tricky run-in, with games away to Borders this Friday and lastly away to Bridgend sandwiching their final home game against Newport on Friday week.
"We had such a successful time last season that we have very high aspirations. Maybe a kick up the backside like the last two weekends will be good for us."
Free travel and low-cost ticket purchases are being offered to any club or school for Ireland's Rugby World Cup qualifying match against Georgia at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, September 28 (kick-off 3 p.m.).
MUNSTER EUROPEAN CUP SQUAD
Forwards: James Blaney, Padraig Brennan, Martin Cahill, John Fogarty, Anthony Foley, Mick Galwey, John Hayes, Eddie Halvey, Marcus Horan, Simon Kerr, Denis Leamy, Rob Laffan, Colm McMahon, Warren O'Kelly, Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll, Alan Quinlan Frank Sheahan, Jim Williams capt.
Backs: Dominic Crotty, Anthony Horgan, Rob Henderson, Jason Holland, Killian Keane, John Kelly, Mossie Lawlor, Dominic Malone, Mike Mullins, Ronan O'Gara, John O'Neill, Mike Prendergast, Jeremy Staunton, Peter Stringer.
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