European Cup/Leinster v Agen:With Christian Warner rolled out yesterday in Donnybrook to face some searching festive questions about the Leinster outhalf position, we may assume the Australian is the one chosen to fill the gap left in the Leinster midfield by the injured Felipe Contepomi. Johnny Watterson reports

A place kicker and an experienced playmaker, Warner is certainly the main candidate, though coach Michael Cheika was loath to confirm much yesterday as he announced a 24-man squad for Leinster's Pool Two Heineken European Cup clash against Agen at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

Girvan Dempsey and new signing Stan Wright have come into the extended squad as prop Fosi Pala'amo leaves. The Pacific Islander injured an ankle against Ulster last weekend and hobbled out of the Magners Celtic League game and, as it now transpires, the European Cup too.

While Cheika and Warner kept people guessing about the final make-up of the starting team, there's little doubt the coach can assemble a generously talented side to face the French. The familiar names are there, but with Cook Island's Wright coming in after a frantic few days practising line calls and scrummaging with his new team-mates, the engine room will need to be firing given the ferocity of the French pack.

In the circumstances, Cheika gave a fine and, it must be said, convincing show of sang-froid.

Reggie Corrigan may come in at loosehead prop with Brian Blaney at hooker. Wright, Harry Vermaas or Ronan McCormack could play at tighthead.

Cheika has also left himself a number of options in terms of his strike force in the back line. With Dempsey back, the coach does have a surplus of players for the positions available.

Shane Horgan, Luke Fitzgerald, Kieran Lewis, Rob Kearney and Denis Hickie vie for three places, assuming the Brian O'Driscoll and Gordon D'Arcy midfield to be irreplaceable.

"Last week's game against Ulster has nothing to do with the selection this week," said Cheika. "There are certain ways we want to play the game and we like to think any player can step in.

"Christian Warner has a lot of experience playing the game in that position (outhalf) and could step in if we need him to. I'm sure he is going to be able to complement what we are looking to achieve in the game on Saturday."

Wright is another who might be expected to perform a role, though he is really an unknown quantity save for the fact he has played for Northland in the NPC these past three seasons.

Parachuting someone in has a novelty value but the practical value of this signing was still open to question yesterday.

"We're realistic about the situation," said Cheika with trademark directness. "The reality is that you are not going to find an international frontrower at this stage of the season. All Super 14 players are cornered for next season.

"That is no disrespect to Stan but all the players from the Northern Hemisphere, for next season at that level, are well and truly signed up.

"He has experience, which is something we are going to need. He's late 20s and he's scrummed against some of the best players in New Zealand. I don't think it's disrespectful to say that we haven't the best prop in the world or anything like that but we've got someone that we're confident in, and we know what we can get out of that player.

"We were in a position where we had a delicate situation, especially with Fosi getting injured. It's really forced our hand but we've had a lot of work with Stan over the past few days."

Inevitably Rupeni Caucaunibuca's name cropped up. If the mercurial Fijian remembers his passport he will be a pivotal cog in the Agen attack. Cheika is aware of the threat: "They're a strong group of players with a major attacking weapon in Caucaunibuca. He is a brilliant talent but we can't build a strategy to deal with him on his own.

"He has scored a lot of tries in the French League over the last two years, so there's no way you can devalue his talent. If we double- or triple-team him then we'll forget about the others. But we've got a few weapons of our own. Remember, he'll have to deal with Shane Horgan."

Well, at least the Ireland right wing is certain to be playing.

LEINSTER: Forwards -R McCormack, R Corrigan, B Blaney, H Vermaas, S Wright, T Hogan, M O'Kelly, O Finegan, C Jowitt, S Keogh, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Backs -C Whitaker, G Easterby, A Dunne, C Warner, D Hickie, R Kearney, G D'Arcy, B O'Driscoll (capt), K Lewis, S Horgan, L Fitzgerald, G Dempsey.