Young guns are aiming high

Gwent v Leinster: Leinster will do well to improve on six consecutive victories in this competition when they face former coach Mike Ruddock's Gwent. The Irish province has 14 players on the injured list andnine on international duty. Shane Jennings leads a young side that includes former Meath minor Gaelic footballer Simon Crawford at blindside flanker.

James Norton, recovered from a fractured hip, starts at full back with Christian Warner moving from outhalf to outside centre.Brian O'Meara hands over scrumhalf duties to Brian O'Riordan, taking the number 10 jersey.

It is an incredibly young pack. UCD prop Jason Moran is named at loosehead prop, while joining Jennings and Crawford in the back row is Ciarán Potts.

There is only one fully contracted player on the bench, UCD hooker David Blaney, Clontarf provide the lions share of the club players in prop Seán Brophy, centre James Downey, full back Darragh O'Shea and wing Niall O'Brien. Greystones' Rob Connolly and Lansdowne flanker Niall Ronan complete the bench.

The game starts at 7.05 p.m. but TG4 will show full deferred coverage with a 7.35 p.m. start. The Gwent side won't be confirmed until just before kick-off.

The club did confirm that Springbok Bobby Skinstad, who arrived this week, will be included among the replacements. Ruddock also named the pack, but, apart from scrumhalf Gareth Barber and centre Andy Marinos, the composition of the backline is a moveable feast.

The Dragons are unbeaten in this tournament at home and, given the under-strength side the Irish province can muster, it would constitute a huge achievement if they were to win.

GWENT DRAGONS: (backs from) P Montgomery, S Tiupolotu, N Brew, G Arasa, A Marinos (capt), S Winn, B Breeze, C Warlow, G Barber. A Black, S Jones, C Anthony; I Gough, P Sidoli; J Ringer, S van Rensburg, J Forster.

LEINSTER: J Norton; J McWeeney, C Warner, D Quinlan, B Burke; B O'Meara, B O'Riordan; J Moran, G Hickie, P Coyle; B Gissing, A Kearney; S Crawford, C Potts, S Jennings (capt). Replacements: S Brophy, D Blaney, N Ronan, R Connolly, J Downey, D O'Shea, N O'Brien.

Referee: G Davies (Scotland).

Forecast: Gwent Dragons.