Leinster’s O’Brien faces late fitness test ahead of Glasgow semi-final

Seán O'Brien faces a late fitness test on a calf muscle problem ahead of Leinster's RaboDirect Pro12 semi-final against Glasgow Warriors at the RDS on Saturday night (7.35pm).

O'Brien was replaced late on in last week's 37-19 victory over the Ospreys and Shane Jennings will start at openside flanker if the Tullow man fails to make it, while Rhys Ruddock would come on to the Leinster bench.

In total, Joe Schmidt makes nine changes from last weekend's victory, six of those coming in the pack.

Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy resume their midfield partnership, with Fergus McFadden moving to the right wing. It means last weekend's hat-trick hero Andrew Conway and Ian Madigan start from the bench.

The other change in the backline sees Isaac Boss replace Luke McGrath at scrumhalf to play alongside Jonny Sexton.

Schmidt brings back his first-choice frontrow of Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss and Mike Ross, with Jack McGrath, Seán Cronin and Jamie Hagan moving to the bench.

Devin Toner replaces Quinn Roux in the secondrow alongside skipper Leo Cullen, while Kevin McLaughlin returns at blindside flanker in place of Ruddock and Jamie Heaslip is named at number eight, where O’Brien started last week.

Glasgow make seven changes an a positional switch from their 20-3 victory over Connacht in Galway last weekend.

Peter Horne moves from inside centre to outhalf, with Ruaridh Jackson dropping to the bench.

The Lions pairing of Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland come in at fullback and right wing respectively, while Alex Dunbar replaces Horne in midfield alongside Sean Lamont. The other change in the backs sees Niko Matawalu takes over from Henry Pyrgos at scrumhalf.

John Welsh keeps his place at tighthead, with Ryan Grant coming in at loose head in place of Moray Low and Pat MacArthur continuing at hooker.

Captain Al Kellock is back in the side after missing the game against Connacht and he will partner Tim Swinson in the secondrow.

Josh Strauss comes in for Rob Harley at blindside, with Barclay starting at openside and Ryan Wilson at number eight.

LEINSTER (v Glasgow, RDS, Saturday, 7.35pm): Rob Kearney; Fergus McFadden, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Isa Nacewa; Jonathan Sexton, Isaac Boss; Cian Healy, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen (Capt), Devin Toner, Kevin McLaughlin, Seán O'Brien/Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Seán Cronin, Jack McGrath, Jamie Hagan, Quinn Roux, Shane Jennings/Rhys Ruddock, John Cooney, Ian Madigan, Andrew Conway.

GLASGOW: Stuart Hogg; Sean Maitland, Sean Lamont, Alex Dunbar, DTH Van der Merwe; Peter Horne, Niko Matawalu; Ryan Grant, Pat MacArthur, Jon Welsh, Tim Swinson, Ali Kellock, Josh Strauss, John Barclay, Ryan Wilson. Replacements: Fraser Brown, Moray Low, Ed Kalman, Tom Ryder, Rob Harley, Henry Pyrgos, Ruaridh Jackson, Mark Bennett.