Cullen comes straight in to face Ospreys

Michael Cheika has left little to chance in his team selection for the meeting with the unbeaten Ospreys at the RDS of Friday night, calling on newly installed captain Leo Cullen to make his first appearance of the season after shoulder surgery.

Cullen has yet to lead his side in the new campaign but has been thrown in at the deep end to face joint-league leaders alongside the much improved Devin Toner who impressed again off the bench in the demolition of Edinburgh last week.

Malcolm O'Kelly takes a place among the replacements, while Trevor Hogan is omitted altogether.

Another substitute against Edinburgh was Sean O'Brien and the flanker did enough to earn his first start of the season in the backrow with Cameron Jowitt and number eight Jamie Heaslip.

Cheika has also opted to start the hugely versatile Isa Nacewa at outhalf ahead of Jonathan Sexton after the new addition replaced the latter and turned in a man-of-the-match display against Edinburgh.

With centre Felipe Contepomi on hand to cover outhalf if needs be, Sexton has been left out of the matchday 22 following his early departure last week.

Rob Kearney makes way for Shane Horgan as the Meathman takes his place on the right wing, moving Luke Fitzgerald, whose hat-trick last week signalled his intent this season, to the left wing.

It was announced yesterday that Tommy Bowe is back in the Ospreys team to face a number of Ireland team-mates.

The Ireland wing has impressed his new employers since his move from Ulster, scoring one try in the win over Cardiff, but he sat out the narrow victory over Glasgow last time out.

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; R Jones, S Tandy, J Thomas; I Evans, AW Jones; A Jones, H Bennett, D Jones. Replacements : E Shervington, P James, I Gough, F Tiatia, R Wells, D Biggar, J Vaughton