Kearney gets chance to shine again

Rob Kearney returns to the Leinster line-up for this Friday's Magners League clash with Glasgow Warriors at Donnybrook.

The young winger who burst on to the scene last season has failed to cement a regular spot this term but benefits this weekend from the absence of some key players due to international commitments.

Luke Fitzgerald, who this season has taken over from where Kearney left off, will play at his preferred position of fullback in place of Girvan Dempsey.

Denis Hickie will add experience to the back three on the blindside.

In the midfield Kieran Lewis and Michael Berne have the mountainous task of filling in for Brian O'Drsicoll and Gordon D'Arcy.

Cillian Willis, who deputised so impressively for Chris Whitaker, is back on the bench as the Australian scrumhalf continues his return to fitness following a shoulder injury.

Outside him will be Christian Warner, whose inclusion was a formality thanks to Felipe Contepomi's commitment to the Argentine cause in Twickenham this weekend.

Trevor Hogan returns to the secondrow and will partner Devin Toner as Michael Cheika plans without Malcolm O'Kelly.

Number eight Jamie Heaslip will captain the side for the first time.

Warriors Coach Sean Lineen is without five players involved in internationals but is travelling with intent as his side go in search of their first win over Leinster in four years.

"We have to take advantage of the fact that we still have a number of our senior internationals with us," said Lineen today. "These guys have a point to prove and we're going over there to make a statement. Our previous results against Leinster have always been very close, just a point or two difference sometimes, so we need to go across and show what we can do."

Winger Thom Evans returns from injury for Glasgow and there will be a first senior start for prop Moray Low.

"It's great to see Moray Low step up. He's trained hard and deserves his chance. We'll be up against it, particularly in the forwards, but I'm sure Moray will cope well up front."

LEINSTER

15: Luke Fitzgerald, 14: Rob Kearney, 13: Kieran Lewis, 12: Michael Berne, 11: Denis Hickie, 10: Christian Warner, 9: Chris Whitaker

1: Ronan McCormack, 2: Brian Blaney, 3: Fosi Pala'amo, 4: Trevor Hogan, 5: Devin Toner, 6: Stephen Keogh, 7: Keith Gleeson, 8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

REPLACEMENTS

16: Reggie Corrigan, 17: Harry Vermaas, 18: Adam Byrnes, 19: Niall Ronan, 20: Cillian Willis, 21: Andrew Dunne, 22: Gary Brown

GLASGOW WARRIORS

15 Rory Lamont, 14 Hefin O'Hare, 13 Graeme Morrison, 12 Andrew Henderson, 11 Thom Evans,
10 Dan Parks, 9 Graeme Beveridge

1 Kevin Tkachuk, 2 Fergus Thomson, 3 Moray Low, 4 Andy Newman, 5 Alastair Kellock CAPTAIN, 6 Andrew Wilson, 7 John Barclay, 8 Jon Petrie

REPLACEMENTS

16 Eric Milligan, 17 Ben Prescott, 18 Dan Turner, 19 Steve Swindall, 20 Sam Pinder, 21 Colin Gregor, 22 Scott Barrow