Cheika welcomes back D'Arcy and Corrigan

While Munster struggle to get key players fit in time for Sunday week's Heineken Cup semi-final, Leinster were afforded the luxury…

While Munster struggle to get key players fit in time for Sunday week's Heineken Cup semi-final, Leinster were afforded the luxury of adding three frontline players to their squad for this weekend's match with Llanelli.

Gordon D'Arcy, Reggie Corrigan and Emmett Byrne, who missed the win over Borders, return to the a 25-man squad for the Celtic League clash at Lansdowne road as Michael Cheika's preparations for the showdown with Munster continue to progress smoothly.

Christian Warner remains the only long-term absentee and with the threat of a possible Brian O'Driscoll citing lifted, Cheika can field a full-strength side in Leinster's last run-out ahead of the semi-final.

"We've got a maximum of 25 points to play for and it's important that we use our two remaining home games to get as many points as we can," said Cheika.

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"We are striving to maintain a consistent peak performance which takes practice. That's a challenge both to the mind as well as to physical preparation. We've brought several new aspects into our play for the next few weeks. The key is to make sure that the players keep on learning.

"We'll be putting out as strong a team as we can because we want to stay competitive."

"There's no better team to play than Llanelli who will be very tough opponents," the coach continued.  "I watched the Powergen Cup final last weekend and if they kept going in the same (in the same vein) as they did in the first half then they would have won.

"Maybe Simon Easterby going off affected them? I have been hugely impressed by Llanelli. It was a great effort to get to the final."

Ulster make two changes from the side that beat the Dragons last time out for Saturday's clash with Glasgow at Firhill.

Paul Steinmetz (fractured cheekbone) is ruled out while the other change is among the substitutes where Kevin Maggs (hamstring) is unavailable.

Irish international Andrew Trimble is available for selection and partners Johnny Bell in the centre while James Topping is named on the bench.

Leinster Squad

Backs (12): Guy Easterby, Brian O'Riordan, Felipe Contepomi, Girvan Dempsey, Brian O'Driscoll, Kieran Lewis, Shane Horgan, Denis Hickie, Gordon D'Arcy, Rob Kearney, John Hepworth, Gary Brown

Forwards (13): Will Green, Reggie Corrigan, Ronan McCormack, Emmett Byrne, David Blaney, Brian Blaney, Malcolm O'Kelly, Bryce Williams, Cameron Jowitt, Niall Ronan, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip, Eric Miller

Ulster team

Bryn Cunningham; Tommy Bowe, Andrew Trimble, Jonny Bell, Andrew Maxwell; David Humphreys, Isaac Boss; Bryan Young, Rory Best,  Simon Best (Captain); Justin Harrison, Matt McCullough; Neil Best, Stephen Ferris, Roger Wilson.  Replacements: Nigel Brady, Justin Fitzpatrick, Ryan Caldwell, Neil McMillan, Kieran Campbell, Adam Larkin, James Topping.