Leinster team to face Connacht

Malcolm O'Kelly will become the second most capped Leinster player of all time when he lines up to face provincial rivals Connacht on Friday after being named in the second row. O'Kelly will make his 138th appearance on Friday and is now just one behind Reggie Corrigan's record for the province.

O'Kelly, Ireland's most capped international will line up alongside, Trevor Hogan in the second row with Shane Jennings returning from injury to form an exciting back-row alongside Stephen Keogh and January's Bank of Ireland Player of the Month Keith Gleeson.

Brian Blaney starts at hooker and will be flanked on either side of the front row by Stan Wright and Ollie le Roux.

In the backline Chris Whitaker captains the side and will be partnered at half-back by Felipe Contepomi, while Luke Fitzgerald starts again at full-back after scoring in Leinster's last outing - a 24-17 victory over the Cardiff Blues.

Another try-scorer that day, Michael Berne, starts in the centre alongside Christian Warner with both the left and right wings set to be announced closer to kick off. The outside back replacement will also be confirmed then.

LEINSTER:

15: Luke Fitzgerald
14: Shane Horgan / Gary Brown / Fionn Carr / Felix Jones (3 to be omitted)
13: Michael Berne
12: Christian Warner
11: Shane Horgan / Gary Brown / Fionn Carr / Felix Jones (3 to be omitted)
10: Felipe Contepomi
9: Chris Whitaker CAPTAIN

1: Ollie le Roux
2: Brian Blaney
3: Stan Wright
4: Trevor Hogan
5: Malcolm O'Kelly
6: Shane Jennings
7: Keith Gleeson
8: Stephen Keogh

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Cian Healy
17: Stephen Knoop
18: Cameron Jowitt
19: Kevin McLaughlin
20: Chris Keane
21: Eoin O'Malley
22: A.N. Other (1 to be added)

REFEREE: George Clancy (IRFU), SUB REFEREE: D Wilkinson (IRFU), TOUCH JUDGE: M Black (IRFU), TMO: Dave McHugh (IRFU)