Leinster attempt to defy the odds and kickstart their bid to qualify for the latter stages of the Heineken Cup this weekend but Shane Horgan is doubtful to play his part for the province despite being named in the squad.
Horgan picked up a rib injury during Leinster's devastating defeat in Edinburgh last month. And while the powerful winger has not played since, he is included in Michael Cheika's preliminary squad of 26 although a final decision on his fitness will not be taken until later in the week.
"I would say that at the moment Shane Horgan has less than a 50 per cent chance of playing," the coach warned today.
With Brian O'Driscoll - in line for his 50th European appearance - also back in action following his recent spell on the sidelines, Cheika is not far off a his full compliment. That said, he must contend with some injuries ahead of Saturday's meeting with Pool Six pacesetters Toulouse at the RDS.
"Stan (Wright) won't train today or tomorrow so we will have to reassess later in the week which is a major issue for us if we were to lose two props (Ollie le Roux being the other), as far as experience is concerned."
Trailing Toulouse by six points, Leinster desperately need to win their final two matches - at home to the French giants and away to Leicester - and hope that other results go their way to have any chance of progressing.
"They have been pretty emphatic (of late)," added Cheika of Leinster's opponents. "They have lost once in the French Championship and once in Europe and I think that they have recruited quite well in the off season.
"But one area that has been particularly impressive for them has been the performance of their forwards. In a game such as this you want to have your first XV, best 22 and every one of the players operating to their maximum. That's not going to be possible given some of the injuries that we're carrying."
"You could qualify without a bonus point (this weekend) because
Toulouse could lose a game. All you've got to do is keep yourself
in contention because no-one has a divine right to beat anyone
else.
We understand in the context of the group itself in order to
stay alive and to keep the group alive we need to win."
Ulster's caretaker coach Steve Williams has named an unchanged
side from the postponed game with Munster last week for Friday's
Heineken Cup clash with Bourgoin at Ravenhill.
David Humphrey's returns at outhalf with Paul Marshall
gaining his second start of the season at scrum half. Isaac Boss is
among the substitutes.
Paddy Wallace and Andrew Trimble make up the centre partnership with Niall O'Connor and Mark McCrea named as cover on the bench.
In the front row Nigel Brady is named as hooker with Justin Fitzpatrick and Declan Fitzpatrick as props.
Captain Carlo Del Fava is joined in the second row by Ryan Caldwell with Matt McCullough named at blindside and new Ulster signing Grant Webb handed his first start at No 8.
Ulster team:B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, P Wallace, S Danielli; D Humphreys, P Marshall; J Fitzpatrick, N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, C Del Fava(Capt), R Caldwell, M McCullough, N Best, G Webb. Replacements: B Young, S Philpott, J Harrison, D Pollock, M McCrea, I Boss, N O'Connor.
Leinster squad: (Forwards): Cian Healy, Ronan McCormack, Brian Blaney, Bernard Jackman, Stephen Knoop, Stan Wright, Leo Cullen, Trevor Hogan, Cameron Jowitt, Malcolm O'Kelly, Stephen Keogh, Keith Gleeson, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip. (Backs): Guy Easterby, Chris Keane, Felipe Contepomi, Jonathan Sexton, Luke Fitzgerald, Rob Kearney, Gordon D'Arcy, Christian Warner, Brian O'Driscoll, Gary Brown, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey.
