Leinster caught short at nine

Celtic League: Leinster are facing a scrumhalf crisis ahead of Saturday's Magners Celtic League encounter with the Dragons at Donnybrook, as the newly promoted Cillian Willis has joined Chris Whitaker and Guy Easterby on the treatment table.

Willis suffered an ankle injury in last Sunday's defeat to Edinburgh in round two of the Heineken European Cup at Murrayfield.

The former Ireland under-21 scrumhalf, and cousin of Brian O'Driscoll, has been the most positive development for the province this season, bringing a sharp pass and enthusiasm to the base of the Leinster scrum.

"A decision will be made on his availability today," said Leinster coach Michael Cheika. "With Chris Whitaker it is a case of wait and see if the nerve damage to his shoulder repairs naturally. There is no time length we can put on the injury."

Easterby is certainly out of action for another month, having recently fractured his jaw, but Whitaker's injury is the most worrying, considering the world-class experience he brings to the team.

And yet, the absence of the two international number nines has allowed Willis to get much-needed game time.

"He (Willis) has proven that he can do it at this level," continued Cheika. "We have been saying that we want to promote home-grown talent at halfback for some time now. We weren't just saying it.

"We meant it. Cillian along with Johnny Sexton and Ian Keatley at outhalf is evidence that we are bringing them through here."

If Willis and Whitaker fail to recover, Andy Dunne and Matt D'Arcy come into contention. Dunne is an outhalf but has been acting as cover for Willis for European games.

Jamie Heaslip, Denis Hickie, Luke Fitzgerald and Keith Gleeson are also available for selection, having been released from the Ireland squad.

But Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey and Malcolm O'Kelly remain in camp to prepare for the Test against South Africa on Saturday week.

Despite a disruptive week for the provinces, with all their frontline players unavailable, Cheika was yesterday putting a positive spin on Sunday's defeat in Edinburgh.

Leinster were criticised for seeking the bonus-point fourth try in the closing stages of that game, when a drop goal would have provided victory.

"It wasn't so much the option taking that was disappointing, as I would never criticise my players for the decisions they take on the pitch," said the coach. "Remember, against Connacht Gordon D'Arcy had the good sense to slip into the pocket and drop a goal.

"It was more the conversion of our first-phase possession that we need to work on.

"To simplify it, we have a habit of doing the complex stuff really well and slipping up on the basic implementation of our first-phase possession. That puts us under pressure."

Stephen Ferris and Matt McCullough return to Ulster, after failing to make the Ireland cut, ahead of the visit of the Borders to Ravenhill tomorrow, while John Kelly is released for Munster duty as they travel to Llanelli on Sunday.

Eoin Reddan and Jeremy Staunton return to London Wasps.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made two alterations to the side agonisingly beaten by Bath in the European Challenge Cup for tomorrow's trip to Glasgow. Matt Mostyn and Mark McHugh have been passed fit to play and replace Keith Matthews and John Hearty, who are retained on the bench.

McHugh comes in at outhalf, with Paul Warwick moving to outside centre.

Meanwhile, it was confirmed yesterday that the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road will take two and a half years. The aim is to have an all-seater stadium holding 50,000 complete by autumn 2009, but several objections are being reviewed by An Bord Pleanála.

The IRFU are awaiting a date for an oral hearing with the planning appeals board, which is holding up the start of construction.

CONNACHT (team v Glasgow Warriors): D Riordan; M Mostyn, P Warwick, G Williams, D Yapp; M McHugh, C Keane; R Hogan, J Fogarty (capt), B Sturgess; D Gannon, A Farley; J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements: A Flavin, B Wilkinson, M Swift, B O'Connor, C O'Loughlin, K Matthews, J Hearty.