European Cup/Gloucester v Leinster:The benchmarking process continues for Leinster in this hotbed of English west country rugby. The Irish province would once have been considered fancy dans by the cognoscenti of the Shed, who glory in the rudiments of forward play. According to that collection of like-minded souls, there could never be enough scrums in a game; they celebrate the primal collisions of the sport.

However, under the stewardship of current coach Dean Ryan, Gloucester adopt more expansive, entertaining patterns, employing some hugely gifted young backs. Unfortunately for the home side, a couple have been ruled out through injury.

The physical nature of the defeat in Agen means that gifted young centre Anthony Allen - his team's leading try scorer (four) and the player Brian O'Driscoll singled out after Leinster's victory in the reverse fixture at Lansdowne Road - wing James Simpson Daniel and fullback Ollie Morgan miss out through injury, while the volatile tyro outhalf, Ryan Lamb, drops to the bench.

Iain Balshaw switches to fullback, James Bailey is named on the right wing with Jack Adams, a try scorer at Lansdowne Road, partnering Mike Tindall in the centre. Willie Walker takes over from Lamb in the number 10 jersey while the combative Peter Richards is preferred to Rory Lawson at scrumhalf.

Up front Ryan has opted to start Nick Wood instead of the former French international Christian Califano while number eight James Forrester is out with a knee problem and is replaced by Adam Balding who made a decent impression when he came on last weekend against Agen. Rudi Keil has recovered from a shoulder injury and is named among the replacements.

Ryan conceded: "In a game of last week's intensity there are obviously some casualties and we are not in a position to risk anyone at this stage. We have been involved in some very physical contests at the top end of Europe and the Guinness Premiership since the turn of the year and these things happen. Nevertheless we have a strong squad for what is an important game for us - Leinster have already won the pool but we want to test ourselves against that calibre of opposition. Europe has been a lost opportunity for us this season but there is still plenty on this game and that is important to us."

Leinster find themselves at the opposite end of the rehabilitation scale with the confirmation Girvan Dempsey (ankle), Brian O'Driscoll (calf) and Brian Blaney (rib) are fit to resume.

Dempsey sustained the damage in the game against Munster just after Christmas while the Leinster and Ireland captain missed last week's victory over Edinburgh. He takes over from Kieran Lewis, who drops out of the match 22. Rob Kearney has excelled in recent matches and can consider himself to be unfortunate to miss out and has to seek consolation with a place on the bench. Bernard Jackman's performances of late mean Blaney starts among the replacements with Harry Vermaas dropping out.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika has one further choice to make about the bench, a straight choice between Christian Warner and Luke Fitzgerald, a decision that will reveal his attitude to the game on the night.

The Australian is unequivocal about what he expects from his team. "It's a very important game for us because the result will dictate the management of where we will play our quarter-final. Winning is also important because we want to make our own destiny. We know that our chances of progressing further will increase if we a get a home game in the play-offs."

The fact that Leinster have qualified for the knockout stages won't compromise the intensity of their challenge tonight. These are the games they must win to further enhance their pedigree as well as the more tangible quality of dictating the venue for their next game in the competition.

The backline is restored to its original glory, an in-form unit playing superbly individually and collectively. Felipe Contepomi is less encumbered with each match following his knee injury and it certainly hasn't affected his place-kicking. He'll have to be similarly accurate with whatever opportunities come his way tonight. Chris Whitaker seems more comfortable in his duties with each passing game. The pack's influence is becoming more pronounced from the performance of Cook Islands prop Stan Wright, through to a maturing and increasingly influential Jamie Heaslip.

The same criteria for success apply in that Leinster have to guarantee solid set-pieces at scrum and lineout and replicate the fluency of the interplay between backs and forwards. Gloucester's pride was stung at Lansdowne Road and they'll want to win this one. They've opted for a physically powerful inside-three defence while not sacrificing any speed out wide.

There's plenty of grunt up front in a pack ably led by Italian captain Marco Bortolami but Leinster's recent rich vein of form suggests that they have the aptitude to successfully complete this latest assignment.

GLOUCESTER: I Balshaw; M Bailey, J Adams, M Tindall, M Foster; W Walker, P Richards; N Wood, M Davies, C Nieto; M Bortolami (capt), A Brown; P Buxton, A Hazell, A Balding. Replacements: O Azam, C Califano, W James, J Boer, R Lawson, R Lamb, R Keil.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; S Horgan, B O'Driscoll (capt), G D'Arcy, D Hickie; F Contepomi, C Whitaker; S Wright, B Jackman, W Green; T Hogan, M O'Kelly; S Keogh, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: B Blaney, R Corrigan, O Finegan, C Jowitt, G Easterby, C Warner/L Fitzgerald, R Kearney.

Referee: N Owens (Wales).

Leading points scorers: Gloucester - Ryan Lamb 35. Leinster - Felipe Contepomi 55.

Leading try scorers: Gloucester - Anthony Allen 4. Leinster - Shane Horgan 4.

Verdict: Leinster to win.