Leinster to sign off in style

RUGBY/Leinster v Borders Reivers:By the time Leinster take the field at Donnybrook tonight, they'll be better versed into how their Magners Celtic League title aspirations rest following the matches in Hughenden last night and at Stradey Park this afternoon.

The fact they are no longer in control of their destiny is largely attributable to their own fallibility in recent weeks and a touch of misfortune. No team or coach can legislate for some of the rank officiating they have had to endure, but realistically they should not have left themselves in such a precarious position.

Leinster have mixed the sublime with the sloppy since their Heineken European Cup demise, the latter outweighing the former. The balance needs to be redressed.

Indiscipline has also undermined their ambition, and this area will be one of the biggest factors in how they fare at the Arms Park next week.

Coach Michael Cheika's decision to tweak attacking gambits and defensive patterns and so frustrate video analysis by opponents has been a qualified success.

The priority for Leinster is to be accurate and precise without compromising their innate flair and willingness to take risks regardless of field position. They also require more patience and an awareness that at times teams must work their opportunities rather than looking for the definitive defensive breach at the first time of asking.

There are injury concerns about the fitness of Shane Horgan and Denis Hickie, the latter having missed the defeat by Ospreys. Kieran Lewis and Luke Fitzgerald stand by to deputise.

Fitzgerald received some criticism the last day but his overall contribution far outweighed a couple of errors.

Girvan Dempsey, Gordon D'Arcy and Horgan have maintained their high standards in recent weeks and it's up to their team-mates to reach the same levels of excellence.

If Leinster are to succeed tonight they need to rediscover the value of collective excellence rather than individual cameos. Up front, the province's most capped player, Reggie Corrigan, and his fellow prop Will Green, a hugely popular figure with team-mates and supporters, will look for an appropriate final outing at the Dublin venue ahead of retirement.

It'll be the same, too, for Guy Easterby at scrumhalf, another whose commitment and humour will be missed.

Bernard Jackman returns at hooker while the back five retain a familiar look, anchored by the in-form Jamie Heaslip. Stephen Keogh and Keith Gleeson have been willing acolytes and it's important for the team's fortunes to see them get on the ball.

A couple of talented tyros, Cian Healy and Seán O'Brien, could make the bench.

Borders coach Steve Bates makes nine changes, two positional, from the team beaten at home by Cardiff last weekend. Arguably their most notable casualty is the Perpignan-bound scrumhalf Chris Cusiter, who is sidelined with a foot injury.

Leinster, certainly, won't be taking anything for granted following their defeat by tonight's opponents at Netherdale earlier in the season, proving the underdog can have a nasty nip. But anything other than a comprehensive victory for the home side - complete with bonus point - would constitute a major surprise.

This is the province's final game at Donnybrook before renovation of the venue begins. Leinster owe their supporters a night to remember in commemorating it but most of all they owe it to themselves to give free rein to their artistic qualities: more Michelangelo, less Murphy and Sons.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; R Kearney, G D'Arcy, S Horgan/K Lewis, D Hickie/L Fitzgerald; F Contepomi, G Easterby; R Corrigan, B Jackman, W Green; T Hogan, M O'Kelly; S Keogh, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: B Blaney, S Wright/C Healy, O Finegan, C Jowitt/S O'Brien, C Whitaker, C Warner, L Fitzgerald/K Lewis.

BORDER REIVERS: S Moffat; D Flockhart, G Law, C McRae (capt), N de Luca; S Jones, R Chrystie; G Kerr, S Scott, B Douglas; S Grimes, O Palepoi; S Gray, A Miller, K Brown. Replacements: S Crombie, E Kalman, C Hamilton, J Dalziel, B McKerchar, G Townsend, B Rennie.

Referee: H Watkins (Wales).

Last time they met: Border Reivers 22 Leinster 19.

Verdict: Leinster to win.