Pragmatism can see Leinster through

Pool Six Preview: Edinburgh v Leinster Murrayfield, 3.30 On TV: Sky Sports 2: Leinster's focus this week has been on the position of scrumhalf, 36-year-old Guy Easterby having been parachuted in as cover for the injured Chris Whitaker.

And sure enough, the worst fears of Cillian Willis and Chris Keane have become reality; Easterby is in the side that takes the field at Murrayfield for this do-or-die fixture.

The stakes are raised by Leinster's inability to garner a bonus point in last Friday's 28-14 win over the same team at the RDS.

Or is that being harsh on Andy Robinson's Edinburgh? They did roll up their sleeves on a viciously cold night to disrupt the Leinster rhythm. But Leinster were exasperatingly off key in the second half and Willis suffers most as he drops from number nine to nowhere, Keane retaining his place on the bench.

This can be seen as a direct result of Willis's failure to consistently put the ball in front of outhalf Felipe Contepomi. Easterby hardly made his bones as a snappy passer during his previous time at Leinster, but he brings a hard edge and, most importantly, experience.

An obvious criticism of coach Michael Cheika is that the Easterby move hinders the development of young players but that is not his primary brief. Results are what the Australian will be remembered for and with an unsigned contract extension on the table, the future of the current coaching set-up could well hinge on this game. In short, defeat could render the season a failure.

Cheika makes other changes. Girvan Dempsey returns at fullback, Rob Kearney moving to left wing as Luke Fitzgerald drops to the bench. Gary Brown misses out and will play for Blackrock against Garryowen in the AIL.

The increased use of Kearney's massive boot made it likely Fitzgerald would give way.

Dempsey is proven in such testing away fixtures, and of course Leinster have lost their only other two visits to Edinburgh in the Heineken European Cup, the most recent last season's hugely frustrating 25-24 defeat.

Also, Toulouse barely got out of Murrayfield alive in round one.

The other change sees Shane Jennings in for Keith Gleeson at seven. Gleeson's notable impact from the bench against Munster may have swung this decision.

When Leinster were producing the goods in the first half last Friday, Contepomi regularly put boot to ball, whether with garryowens or diagonal punts. And Kearney slotted into outhalf occasionally to probe the touchline.

Such an approach will be required again, initially at least.

Leinster can forget about the bonus point. This fixture in the past has been so tricky any margin of victory will suffice.

One thing in their favour is karma. Having slugged out a win in Musgrave Park, they went missing at the RDS, so the swings-and-roundabouts theory suggests they could cut loose here. They must not go into another third-quarter slump.

Edinburgh make two enforced changes. With prop Craig Smith (calf) and number eight David Callam (neck) injured, captain Ali Hogg comes into the back row and winger Simon Webster returns.

Leinster look primed to win.

EDINBURGH: B Cairns; A Turnbull, N De Luca, J Houston, S Webster; P Godman, M Blair (capt); A Jacobsen, R Ford, A Allori; M Mustchin, B Gissing; S Cross, R Rennie, A Hogg. Replacements: A Kelly, G Cross, C Hamilton, R Reid, B Meyer, D Blair, C MacRae.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll (capt), G D'Arcy, R Kearney; F Contepomi, G Easterby; O Le Roux, B Jackman, S Wright; L Cullen, M O'Kelly; S Keogh, S Jennings, J Heaslip. Replacements: B Blaney, C Healy, C Jowitt, K Gleeson, C Keane, J Sexton, L Fitzgerald.

Referee: Tim Hayes(Wales).

Odds (Paddy Power):Handicap - Edinburgh +6 10/11. Leinster -6 10/11. Draw 20/1. Outright - 7/4 Edinburgh, 2/5 Leinster, 25/1 draw.

Forecast: Leinster to win.