O'Driscoll back in Leinster mix

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll and lock Malcolm O'Kelly are back in the Leinster panel ahead of Friday's Magner's League clash…

Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll and lock Malcolm O'Kelly are back in the Leinster panel ahead of Friday's Magner's League clash with Glasgow Warriors at Firhill.

Coach Michael Cheika will be hoping the pair can put their World Cup disappointment behind them and add some mettle to his Leinster side who were beaten off the park by a rampant Llanelli Scarlets side in the RDS last weekend.

Also in the frame for selection is versatile young back Fionn Carr, but Cheika will be without Ireland lock Trevor Hogan who faces surgery on a knee cartilage injury which is likely to rule him out of the early European Cup matches, the first of which is at home to Leicester on November 10th.

A foot injury rules Gary Brown out of the reckoning, while Leo Cullen and Chris Whitaker are doubtful.

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"It's obviously a blow to lose Trevor and Gary because their recent performances have been of a high standard. Fergus McFadden is ok, but we'll have to wait and see on how both Leo and Chris are this week," said the coach today.

"On a positive note, we're delighted to welcome back both Brian and Malcolm from Ireland duty. They've been around for training and I suppose it's a bit of a re-start for them as it's the first time that they will have played with the new players who have joined the squad.

"The players who were away at the World Cup have shown a real hunger to get back and play for Leinster and it will be a further boost when the other players join the squad for the following game."

The Australian is hoping that last weeks 52-23 defeat will serve as a lesson to the inexperienced squad members that nothing ever goes smoothly in professional sport.

"There was huge disappointment for the players especially last weekend. We have a number of young players who will benefit enormously from that experience and from the previous week's victory in Wales.

"There's nothing simple about professional rugby and players' careers won't ever go on an upward spiral. The top players take experience, learn their lesson from it and then build on it because we've nothing else to take from last weekend."

One experienced campaigner Cheika could do with is outhalf Felipe Contepomi, who was yesterday nominated for the IRB Player of the Year Award alongside his Argentinean team-mate Juan Martin Hernandez.

As is so often the case when people are referring to Dr Phil, it's the person rather than the player who is singled out for praise by Cheika.

"Since I've been involved with Leinster, Felipe has been nothing but an absolute pleasure to work with. He's a good player, but more importantly he is a good person.

"Felipe has been a dominant figure in the European scene for the last few years and I'm delighted for him and his family that he has received this recognition and that he has shown his talents on the world stage.

Leinster Squad (v Glasgow)

Forwards: S. Wright, J. Gomez, C. Healy, S. Knoop, B. Blaney, B. Jackman, L. Cullen, M. O'Kelly, D. Toner, C. Jowitt, K. McLaughlin, S. Keogh, J. Heaslip, K. Gleeson, S. Jennings

Backs: C. Whitaker, C. Keane, C. Willis, J. Sexton, C. Warner, B. O'Driscoll, F. McFadden, F. Carr, R. Kearney, L. Fitzgerald, R. McCarron

Referee: Hugh Watkins (WRU)