Cheika confident in Leinster's progression

Celtic League/Dragons v Leinster: There is a light, breezy feel these days to Leinster. You walk into the press conference and there is coach Michael Cheika in his crisp designer cloths. Black on black on black. But with it is a feeling Leinster are doing good things. They are pretty and clinical.

This weekend the principals will not be lining out. Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Malcolm O'Kelly and Shane Horgan are on a well-earned rest.

But one of the impressive qualities about this team is they have played a style that shines even without a back line of stars.

Denis Hickie, Rob Kearney and Girvan Dempsey are well capable themselves of shining. Given the recent history with Irish selections, they will want to.

With Felipe Contepomi calling the shots from outhalf, Leinster thrive. But they will travel to Rodney Parade in the knowledge Newport Dragons have won their last three matches there, against Ospreys, Connacht and Castres. The defeat of Connacht was their only win over Irish opponents in their last six encounters.

But Leinster's only loss in their last five Celtic League games was to Llanelli in January, although their visits to Wales have been grim enough and they have lost on both their other visits this season. What will encourage the side is that in Leinster's 33-14 win at Donnybrook last September, Kearney, Dempsey and Contepomi were the scorers.

"During the last couple of weeks we've had a real focus whether we've been training with a dozen players or the full squad," said Cheika this week. "I'm pretty happy with the way it has gone and I'm interested to see how we come back.

"We've tried to make everything we do a habit so it becomes a ritual. We've tried to maintain the evolution of our game but we've also brought in new things, areas we want to work on. Whether we can take that on to the field will be a test of our philosophy."

Dempsey lines up at fullback in a strong back three that includes Hickie and Kearney. Kieran Lewis, who along with Jamie Heaslip, Brian Blaney and replacement prop Ronan McCormack earned an Ireland A cap last weekend, partners former league player John Hepworth at centre.

There are no changes in the pack from the side that defeated Border Reivers 62-14 in Leinster's last Celtic League outing, Eric Miller forming a powerful backrow with Keith Gleeson and Heaslip. There is no room yet for the youngsters Devon Toner and Jonathan Sexton.

Newport do not have their international players, five of whom were selected for the Welsh squad who faced Scotland last week. The three who started the match for Wales - centre Hal Luscombe, secondrow Ian Gough and number eight Michael Owen - are omitted, while Ceri Sweeney and Gareth Cooper are out injured.

NEWPORT: A Thomas; G Wyatt, N Brew, B Bryant, B Breeze; C Warlow, G Baber; A Black, S Jones, R Thomas; A Hall, P Sidoli; J Ringer, J Forster (capt), R Oakley. Replacements: A Brown, D Maddocks, C Anthony, B Griffiths, S van Rensburg, S Tuipulotu, L Hinton.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; R Kearney, K Lewis, J Hepworth, D Hickie; F Contepomi (capt), G Easterby; R Corrigan, B Blaney, W Green; A Byrnes, B Williams; E Miller, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: D Blaney, R McCormack, B Gissing, N Ronan, B O'Riordan, E Hickey, G Brown.

Referee: Peter Allan (SRU).

Dragons v Leinster

Rodney Parade, today, 5.30

On TV: Setanta Sports