The Louth man joins his brother Dave and Isa Nacewa in the back three, while Dubliner Brendan Macken, on his 24th senior appearance, gets the chance to form a midfield partnership with Leinster's most capped player Gordon D'Arcy who will line out for the 219th occasion on Saturday.
Isaac Boss continues at half back alongside the league's top points scorer Ian Madigan who has scored 149 points in 18 games to date.
Hooker Richardt Strauss will make his 75th Leinster appearance after recovering from injury and takes his place in the front row alongside fellow international colleagues Cian Healy and Mike Ross. Devin Toner, a second half replacement last weekend, partners Quinn Roux at lock.
Jamie Heaslip, meanwhile, leads the team and features in an experienced back-row alongside Shane Jennings and Kevin McLaughlin.
Ireland trio Sean Cronin, Leo Cullen and Rhys Ruddock are named amongst the replacements.
Saturday's game will mark Leinster's 100th capped interprovincial fixture of the professional era (since August 1995).
In addition to RTE2 and BBC NI who will show the game live on Saturday, the Official Leinster Supporters Club (OLSC) can confirm the following international broadcast arrangements for supporters around the world.
UK & Ireland - Live on RTE2/BBC NI from 6.15pm Saturday
New Zealand - Live on The Rugby Channel from 7.15am am Sunday
Canada - Live on Sportsnet World from 3pm Saturday
Asia - Delayed on Setanta Asia from 10pm HKT Sunday
USA - Delayed on Fox Soccer Plus from 7pm ET Saturday
South Africa - Delayed on Setanta Africa from 1.45am GMT Sunday
Australia - Delayed on Setanta Australia from 10.35am EST Sunday
Radio - No live radio coverage this week
Our bases in London (Porterhouse Covent Garden), Birmingham (Oh Velvet), New York (Madhatter Saloon), Dubai (McGettigans) and Christchurch (Monza Sports Bar) will all be showing the game live. In Sydney, the Gaelic Club will open at 10.30am on Sunday morning to show the game.
Further information from the OLSC for supporters abroad can be found on http://www.leinsterrugby.ie/supporters/olsc_abroad
LEINSTER:
15: Rob Kearney
14: Dave Kearney
13: Brendan Macken
12: Gordon D'Arcy
11: Isa Nacewa
10: Ian Madigan
9: Isaac Boss
1: Cian Healy
2: Richardt Strauss
3: Mike Ross
4: Devin Toner
5: Quinn Roux
6: Kevin McLaughlin
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN
REPLACEMENTS:
16: Sean Cronin
17: Jack McGrath
18: Jamie Hagan
19: Leo Cullen
20: Rhys Ruddock
21: John Cooney
22: Andrew Goodman
23: Andrew Conway
REFEREE: George Clancy (IRFU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Leo Colgan, David Connolly (both IRFU), 4th OFFICIAL: Brian MacNeice (Leinster Rugby Referees), 5th OFFICIAL: Gary Conway (Leinster Rugby Referees), TMO: Jude Quinn (IRFU)
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