"In the warm-up prior to the Ulster game I felt a stinger in my shoulder but as the warm-up went on I felt it getting better so I was happy to play. But then I got a bit of a knock in the first half and felt it, so to err on the side of caution I sat out last weekend's win over Connacht.
"But it's always a bit nerve-wracking watching games because you have a lot of nervous energy to expend! The likes of Rhys (Ruddock) and Dominic Ryan have really stepped up in recent weeks and are making an impression, which is great to see.
"With Jenno (Shane Jennings) a late withdrawal due to illness and Seanie (O'Brien) and Jamie (Heaslip) all back in the frame this week it's starting to get a bit congested in the back row. But that's exactly what you want. The greater the competition for places, the more intense training is and the enthusiasm all of the lads bring can only be a positive and the management have shown that they're not afraid to mix and match things and back the depth of the squad.
"Edinburgh will pose a big challenge for us this week and we went through a phase for a number of years where we couldn't buy a win there. We won a high scoring game last year and snuck a win by the skin of our teeth earlier this season, so we're expecting them to be gunning for us. We'll need to bring a high level of intensity and it'll be another tight and physical battle.
"Under Michael Bradley they have put together some really good performances and their run in Europe last year was an indication of the threat they can pose. They have an international quality back-row and their forwards are good on the ground, abrasive and efficient spoilers. David Denton, Ross Rennie, Roddy Grant and Netani Talei have performed consistently well so whichever back-row they go with will be strong.
"From our point of view, January is a huge month. We're still hanging on in both competitions and it's all to play for, but we're coming into Europe at a slightly different angle than last year.
"We have a lot of belief and we're taking each game on a week by week basis. That's something that Joe (Schmidt) drills into us."
Name: Kevin McLaughlin
DOB: 20th September 1984
Birthplace: Dublin
Height: 1.93 m (6' 4")
Weight: 109 kg (17 st 1 lb)
Position: Back Row / Lock
Club: St. Mary's College RFC
School: Gonzaga College SJ
Leinster Caps - Career: 85 (4 tries)
Leinster Caps - 2012/13: 10
Leinster 'A' Caps: 24 (v Ulster x5, Cambridge, Oxford, Ireland U-21 x2, Crawshays x2, Munster x4, Saracens x2, Bristol, Ireland Under-20, Connacht, Enisei STM, Edinburgh x2, Glasgow)
British & Irish Cup Caps: 2 (v Cornish Pirates, Currie)
Ireland Caps: 5
Ireland 'A' (Wolfhounds) Caps: 3 (v Tonga, Scotland, England)
Ireland Under-21 Caps: 5 (v France, Samoa, South Africa, Canada, Samoa)
Leinster Under-21 Caps: 9
Ireland Schools Caps: 7
Leinster Schools Caps: 7
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