Leinster coach Michael Cheika received a timely fillip ahead of Friday night's Magners Celtic League clash with Munster at Musgrave Park with the confirmation that Gordon D'Arcy and Stephen Keogh would be available for selection, writes John O'Sullivan
D'Arcy was a late withdrawal from the team that beat the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium last weekend, while Keogh has been out of commission since the week of the Heineken European Cup clash with the Leicester Tigers when he sustained up a hand injury that required an operation. It will be an especially emotive occasion for the former Munster player.
Ollie le Roux and Jamie Heaslip, both of whom were rested for the Ospreys match, return to an extended squad. Cheika elaborated on the appeal of this eagerly-awaited encounter. "The intensity of big derby games are always massive. We've had two so far this season - against Ulster and Connacht - and we have another big one coming up.
"The games are always tight, competitive and hugely physical and I'm expecting Friday night to be no different. We made a fair few changes to our team for the Ospreys match and first and foremost, I'm pleased that we got the win.
"We lacked control at the base of our scrum and in our delivery and they were probably the two key ingredients behind the game becoming messy. We lacked a bit of discipline at times and we know that coming up against a side as strong as Munster's that they are key areas that we will need to improve upon.
"Our away form has improved this year and that was an area that we were keen to improve on. We've got to keep our heads against a Munster side who are bang in-form by the looks of things."
The Australian's eye has been taken by a brace of New Zealanders. "Munster have experience right throughout their team and I have been particularly impressed by the two centres - Rua Tipoki and (Lifeimi) Mafi. I've seen a fair bit of Tipoki and he has a brilliant sidestep and is a real threat. He looks to have settled into the Munster culture really well and they're both sure to test our defence."
Cheika also pointed out that old Leinster boys Niall Ronan and Kieran Lewis would love to be involved against their former team-mates, before adding: "When it comes to derby games, you tend to forget about external factors like going to the top of the table and things like that. There's a lot of rugby to be played between now and the end of the season. Friday night will be a big enough challenge in itself."
Munster counterpart Declan Kidney has announced a 25-man squad ahead of the clash, the main talking point of which is the return of Barry Murphy. The Ireland A centre scored two tries in a recent A interprovincial against Leinster and returns to the elite squad as a result.
The home side will be without Alan Quinlan, who will be out for eight weeks, after sustaining up a hand injury in their impressive victory over the Dragons last weekend. The Tipperary man has been in brilliant form recently and it's a cruel blow that he is sidelined by torn ligaments in his thumb that necessitated surgery.
Both Leinster and Munster will confirm their teams tomorrow lunch-time.
Meanwhile, Ulster's stand-in coach Steve Williams has released a 27-strong squad for Friday night's game against Edinburgh at Ravenhill.
The province managed to climb away from the bottom of the table by beating Connacht at the Sportsground last weekend, their first win since September and their first away win since the previous April.
Captain Rory Best prefers to look ahead not back, suggesting rather cryptically: "It is now the biggest game of our season again, like Friday past was and the week after will be. We can't go looking beyond Edinburgh."
One Edinburgh player with whom Ulster will be well versed is their former wing Andrew Maxwell, who scored a try for his Scottish employers at the weekend.
Connacht host Glasgow at the Sportsground on Friday night and coach Michael Bradley will reveal his squad today.
Friday night's eagerly-anticipated Magners Celtic League clash between Munster and Leinster at Musgrave Park (7.30) will be shown live on Setanta Sports 1, a subscription channel and not Setanta Ireland which is freely available on the NTL and Chorus networks, writes John O'Sullivan.
The station will cover two Celtic League matches that night but have opted to screen Ulster's home game against Edinburgh on Setanta Ireland while putting the game between Munster and Leinster on a subscription channel.
Those looking to see the game can subscribe to the Setanta Sports Pack for a €18 per month - there is no annual contract required - 12 channel package.
Satellite customers (Sky) can phone 0818 20 30 40 to get the Setanta Sports Pack. This includes the full offering of 12 channels.
For NTL and Chorus cable customers, they get Setanta Ireland free but for Setanta Sports 1 and the rest of the channels, they need to upgrade and phone 1890 940 632.
