Isaac Boss captains Leinster as Rhys Ruddock returns to starting fifteen

Leinster will be aiming to pile more misery on an Ospreys side who have seen their title challenge fade since losing influential players to the Six Nations.

Consecutive away defeats to Edinburgh and Glasgow pushed the Ospreys from first to fifth in the Pro 12, two points behind Friday’s visitors in the battle for an end-of-season play-off spot.

While Leinster’s recent form, coming from behind to beat Zebre after losing at home to the Newport Gwent Dragons, has done little to suggest they could lift a third straight title, Matt O’Connor’s side will be eyeing a victory in South Wales to keep their season on track.

O’Connor has made seven changes from the side who needed a late Seán Cronin try to secure a bonus-point against Zebre.

They include Isaac Boss, who returns to captain the side from scrumhalf, Rhys Ruddock, who makes his first start at flanker since breaking his arm in December, and Dave Kearney, who replaces Luke Fitzgerald on the wing.

Ospreys coach Steve Tandy has resisted the urge to make wholesale changes following last week’s 19-16 defeat to Pro 12 leaders Glasgow, with just three up front and one behind the scrum.

They have not lost three consecutive Pro12 matches since September 2012 and have won their last 10 at the Liberty Stadium since losing to Munster 12 months ago.

“It’s been very tough for us over the last few weeks but we are still in the hunt for the top four and we want to finish strongly,” said Ospreys scrumhalf Martin Roberts.

OSPREYS: D Evans; T Grabham, J Spratt, J Matavesi, H Dirksen; S Davies, M Roberts; R Bevington, S Otten, D Arhip; T Cavubati, T Ardron (capt); J Bearman, J King, D Baker.

Replacements: M Dwyer, M Thomas, D Suter, R Hughes, O Cracknell, M Allen, T Habberfield, R Fussell.

LEINSTER: Z Kirchner; F McFadden, B Te'o, G D'Arcy, D Kearney; J Gopperth, I Boss (capt); M Bent, R Strauss, T Furlong; T Denton, K Douglas; R Ruddock, J Van Der Flier, J Conan.

Replacements: A Dundon, P Dooley, R Burke-Flynn, B Marshall, D Ryan, L McGrath, N Reid, D Fanning.

Referee: John Lacey (IRFU).