Cheika avails of squad depth

Ireland internationals Luke Fitzgerald and Girvan Demspey have been recalled to the Leinster side ahead of Friday's Magners Celtic…

Ireland internationals Luke Fitzgerald and Girvan Demspey have been recalled to the Leinster side ahead of Friday's Magners Celtic League meeting with Edinburgh at the RDS.

The duo's return emphasises the strength and depth available to coach Michael Cheika this season, with Shane Horgan and versatile new signing Isa Nacewa consigned to the replacements bench after the opening 16-16 draw against Cardiff Blues in the Arms Park last weekend.

Dempsey will start at fullback for the defending champions, with Fitzgerald on the right wing and Rob Kearney on the left.

The central combination of former captain Brian O'Driscoll and Argentinean Felipe Contepomi is retained, as is the halfback partnership between skipper Chris Whitaker and outhalf Jonathan Sexton.

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In the pack, prop Cian Healy is replaced by Stan Wright who has recovered from injury. The move sees Ronan McCormack move to loosehead.

Malcolm O'Kelly remains in the secondrow but he will partnered by Trevor Hogan rather than Devin Toner who joins Healy, John Fogarty, Sean O'Brien and Chris Keane on the bench.

Kick-off at the RDS is at 7.30pm.

LEINSTER: Girvan Dempsey; Luke Fitzgerald, Brian O'Driscoll, Felipe Contepomi, Rob Kearney; Jonathan Sexton, Chris Whitaker (capt); Ronan McCormack, Bernard Jackman, Stan Wright; Trevor Hogan, Malcolm O'Kelly; Cameron Jowitt, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip. REPLACEMENTS: Cian Healy, John Fogarty, Devin Toner, Sean O'Brien, Chris Keane, Shane Horgan, Isa Nacewa

EDINBURGH: Hugo Southwell; Mark Robertson, Calum MacRae, Nick De Luca,  Chris Paterson; Phil Godman, Mike Blair (capt); Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, Geoff Cross; Craig Hamilton, Ben Gissing; Matt Mustchin, Allister Hogg, Scott Newlands. REPLACEMENTS: Steve Lawrie, Gavin Kerr, Steve Turnbull, Andrew Kelly, Greig Laidlaw, David Blair, Andrew Turnbull.