Leinster

As expected Matt Williams yesterday named a full-strength side for tomorrow night's all-ticket quarter-final, with both Girvan Dempsey and Denis Hickie back after missing the last meeting with Newport four weeks ago. The Leinster coach, however, admitted tight-head Emmet Byrne is doubtful pending a fitness test on his shoulder injury. "If we're fortunate enough to get through he will be available for next week."

Either Paul Wallace or Peter Coyle will start if Byrne is ruled out. Replacement outhalf Andy Dunne is also very doubtful due to a chipped bone in his ankle and ligament problems. Peter McKenna would then be called in, with Brian O'Meara covering the outhalf position.

Having won 11 games on the spin this season, and this side having been picked for seven of the last eight games barring the occasional injury here or there, it would seem like a fairly straightforward selection, but Williams maintained: "There are still some close calls, especially Trevor (Brennan) and Ben Willis. They have been playing some super rugby.

"It's hard to justify leaving Trev out really. He's just playing fantastic off the bench. He did some things over in Newport, some tackles especially, which turned the game. Just phenomenal tackles which really started the tie for us, plus his discipline has been superb this season. So there are still lots of decisions to be made."

After their back-to-back European wins over the Welsh side this will be their third meeting in six weeks and Williams admitted Newport were "the best side we've played this season. All three games were going to be arm wrestles, three-point games as I said to the team. They're a very, very good side, very well coached. They stopped us very well the last time. To be quite honest I'd prefer to play anyone else other than Munster in the whole competition."

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; D Hickie, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, G D'Arcy; N Spooner, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, E Byrne, L Cullen, M O'Kelly, E Miller, V Costello, K Gleeson. Replacements: P Coyle, G Hickie, R Casey, T Brennan, B Willis, A Dunne, A Magro.

A new Leinster supporters scarf will be launched at tomorrow's game in Donnybrook at the Club Tricot shop.

Munster

In sharp contrast to Leinster, Munster have a number of walking wounded this week. Not only has David Wallace been ruled out but vacancies have been left at scrumhalf and outside centre in light of Peter Stringer (ankle) and Mike Mullins (flu) being unable to train this week for Saturday's quarter-final against Llanelli at Thomond Park.

Furthermore, the back row has yet to be finalised due to Alan Quinlan going over on his ankle toward the end of Munster's 22-10 warm-up win over Leinster in Waterpark last Friday. If he's fit, Quinlan is likely to start alongside Jim Williams and Anthony Foley in what would be the same back row which featured in the 40-6 win over Bridgend last time out in Europe. Otherwise Colm McMahon should start at openside.

Unsurprisingly, Declan Kidney and company have remained loyal to Jeremy Staunton and Jason Holland despite both Dominic Crotty and Rob Henderson returning from injury, although in another tricky selection Mick O'Driscoll has been recalled ahead of Paul O'Connell, who had made his first European start last time out against Bridgend.

MUNSTER: J Staunton; J Kelly/M Mullins/R Henderson, Kelly/Mullins/Henderson, J Holland, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer/M Prendergast/D Hegarty; P Clohessy, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M Galwey (capt), M O'Driscoll, (back row from) J Williams, A Foley, A Quinlan or C McMahon. Replacements: D Crotty, K Keane, AN Other, M Horan, J Blaney, P O'Connell, D O'Callaghan.

Connacht

Steph Nel has delayed announcing a side until today.

Newport

Ofisa Tonu'u has returned to New Zealand following the death of his mother on Tuesday, an event which, as well as casting a cloud over Newport's preparations, has dealt them a significant blow given the former All Black scrumhalf had become a very influential player for the Welsh side. Dale Burn, impressive in the pool stages against Munster, deputises.

The openside Jason Forster has also been ruled out with a groin strain and will be replaced by Welsh under-21 flanker Gareth Gravell. Otherwise it is a predictable selection as Ian Gough makes his first start of the season for Newport after playing for Wales in their last couple of internationals - Mike Voyle dropping to the bench - while Adrian Garvey is recalled at tight-head for Chris Anthony.

The Newport coach Ian McIntosh was making optimistic noises yesterday.

"You can't go into any game thinking you can't win it. We're really looking forward to this contest. Beating Leinster would help us to further establish ourselves and after all there is a trophy to be won at the end of this competition."

So too was their captain Simon Raiwalui, who has recovered from a neck injury which sidelined him from Fiji's two recent Tests. "I think this time we've got to concentrate more on how we're going to play rather than thinking about them. We've got to force our game plan on Leinster and we will be going there very confident."

NEWPORT: M Pini; M Mostyn, A Marinos, J Pritchard, B Breeze; S Howarth, D Burn; R Snow, J Richards, A Garvey, S Raiwalui, I Gough, P Buxton, A Powell, G Gravell. Replacements: C Anthony, P Young, M Voyle, J Powell, M Watkins, J Strange, AN Other.

Llanelli

The Lions and Welsh number eight Scott Quinnell is a major loss for Llanelli due to an inflammation of the knee which had some bone removed after the Lions tour. Furthermore, their American duo of lock Luke Gross and back-rower Dave Hodges are on international duty for the USA Eagles against South Africa.

Hodges would probably have played at number eight but instead Simon Easterby moves there, with Chris Wyatt moving to the back row and Vernon Cooper and Craig Gillies forming a new second-row combination. Robin McBryde drops to the bench due to a pinched nerve in his back.

With Welsh outhalf Stephen Jones reverting to inside centre Llanelli have gone for the back line which helped them run in 15 tries and 90 points against Calvisano in their last European outing.

LLANELLI: B Davies; W Proctor, M Cardey, S Jones (capt), G Evans; G Owen, G Easterby; M Madden, M Thomas, J Davies, V Cooper, C Gillies, C Wyatt, S Easterby, I Boobyer. Replacements: P Booth, R McBryde, S Morgan, D Jones, D Peel, N Boobyer, S Finau.