Girvan Dempsey will make his 100th Leinster appearance while Denis Hickie is set to make his first start since last October when the province take on Glasgow Warriors in Saturday’s Heineken Cup clash at the RDS.
"It will be a proud moment for me when I step out on the field on Saturday, without a doubt. I don’t think that I would ever have dreamed of getting 100 caps when I made my debut back in 1996 away in Treviso," said Dempsey.
"This year I’m enjoying playing under Michael (Cheika) and David (Knox) partly because I’m not putting myself under as much pressure when I take to the field. I think that that’s a case in point for a number of players.
"The crowds have also been superb in the RDS and they have been a lot more vocal than in the past," added Dempsey, with another sell-out expected at Leinster’s temporary home in Ballsbridge.
The prescence of Hickie on the left wing will inject pace and guile into the home side in this must-win game for Cheika’s charges. Leinster are currently second in Pool Five, seven points adrift of Bath who lead on 19 points.
The 1998 winners can guarantee a place in the knockout stages with victory over Bourgoin tonight.
Dempsey believes the main threat from their opponents tomorrow will come from the forwards: "Glasgow have a big pack, especially their back row. Dan Parks had an off day in the reverse fixture in Scotland but his kicking has been exemplary since.
"We’re aiming to show our form over the Christmas period following the defeat in Llanelli. That defeat, if anything, has helped to refocus our minds on the huge task ahead. In a sense, this is a semi final for us. We’re not where people think we are - and we know that. We know that we’re a good team, but now it’s up to us to show it," added Dempsey.
As expected, Brian O’Driscoll will captain the side and is partnered alongside Gordon D’Arcy in the central positions, while the tournament’s top scorer Felipe Contepomi starts at outhalf.
Up front Bryce Williams partners Malcolm O’Kelly at second row with Rob Kearney named as cover on the bench.
Over 11,000 tickets have already been sold for Leinster’s penultimate pool game which kicks-off at 5.15pm.
Leinster: Girvan Dempsey, Shane Horgan, Brian O'Driscoll (C), Gordon D'Arcy, Denis Hickie, Felipe Contepomi, Guy Easterby, Reggie Corrigan, Brian Blaney, Emmett Byrne, Bryce Williams, Malcolm O'Kelly, Cameron Jowitt, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip
Replacements: David Blaney, Ronan McCormack, Adam Byrnes, Eric Miller, Brian O'Riordan, Kieran Lewis, Rob Kearney
Referee: Joel Jutge (France)
