Patched-up Edinburgh look set for drubbing

Leinster v Edinburgh:Understandably, your thoughts are elsewhere today. This also applies to Edinburgh fans, what with the All Blacks due at Murrayfield tomorrow, so only the most loyal are expected at the reopening of the RDS this evening.

The story here is not so much about Leinster as about the plight of Edinburgh - coach Lynn Howells was fired last month - after the franchise returned to full SRU control following a summer of financial constraints. Most of their Scottish internationals have fled to England, France or Ulster, while the arrival of the great Stephen Larkham was shelved.

Keep an eye out tonight for the former England coach Andy Robinson, who was recently interviewed for the Edinburgh job - but don't hold your breath; media duties may detain him elsewhere.

Edinburgh, under the temporary guidance of Henry Edwards, field numerous journeymen and unknowns, including six debutants - Andy Turnbull, John Houston, Ben Meyer, Augusto Allori, Andrew Maxwell and Ben Gissing - against a side they will meet three more times this season.

Leinster should bury them.

The race for Denis Hickie's number 11 jersey begins in earnest tonight, with the back three of Rob Kearney, Luke Fitzgerald and Gary Brown all contenders.

Leo Cullen captains the side on his return from a two-year stint with Leicester in a pack that, bar Malcolm O'Kelly, have been entrusted with improving Leinster's reputation this season.

Argentinian Juan Francisco-Gomez makes his debut at tighthead prop, while Shane Jennings has recovered from thumb surgery to make the bench.

LEINSTER: R Kearney; G Brown, M Berne, C Warner, L Fitzgerald; J Sexton, C Whitaker; S Wright, B Jackman, J Francisco-Gomez; T Hogan, L Cullen (capt); S Keogh, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: B Blaney, S Knoop, D Toner, C Jowitt, S Jennings, C Willis, F McFadden.

EDINBURGH: N De Luca; A Turnbull, B Cairns, J Houston, A Maxwell; P Godman, B Meyer; A Allori, A Kelly, G Cross; M Mustchin, B Gissing; A MacDonald, R Rennie, S Cross (capt). Replacements: S Lawrie, R Grant, C Hamilton, R Reid, G Laidlaw, A Warnock, J Thompson.

Referee: P Fear (WRU).