Leinster team to face Glasgow Warriors

Jonathan Sexton starts at out-half with Felipe Contepomi partnering Luke Fitzgerald at centre. In the pack, Devin Toner starts in the second row alongside Malcolm O'Kelly with John Fogarty coming into the front row alongside Cian Healy and Stan Wright.

Girvan Dempsey is a doubt at full-back due to illness and a decision on his availability will be made closer to kick off.

Speaking earlier this week GIRVAN DEMPSEY said that Friday night's Magners League game away to the Glasgow Warriors is a massive one as the province looks to get back to winning ways...

"Last weekend's win over Wasps was right up there as one of our better performances, without a shadow of a doubt. I think that if you were to look back at the game overall, the physicality of the forwards was the platform for the second half performance, which was superb.

"We lulled a bit coming into the half-time break, but Luke's (Fitzgerald) try kick-started a superb effort and we showed a real hunger and enthusiasm to defend our line and not give them an inch. In the last play of the game they had an overlap but we held out and it was a case of us saying 'It's our defensive line and there's no way you're going to get past it.'

"It's vital that we back up our performance on Friday night because our recent Magners League form hasn't been as good as we would have liked. We know that there are areas that we need to improve upon because as the reigning champions, teams are raising their game against us and we have to match them in terms of physicality and hunger.

"They're gunning for us and we know that each and every time we set foot on the field, we have to be on top of our game.

"Glasgow, at times, were superb against Toulouse last weekend. They've shown in their form so far in both competitions that they're playing some excellent rugby. They have some very good ball-carrying forwards in the pack and some lively sprinters out in the backline.

"Thom Evans is one major threat. The way he roams around looking for space means that you have to be on top of your game. If you man-mark players then you leave yourself open for another of their attacking threats, so we will have to be mindful and stay true to our game-plan, like we did last weekend.

"It's important that we park last weekend's result and focus on Glasgow. We will re-focus for the next few games on the Magners League and I think that we've learned from past mistakes where we have failed to back up good victories with more good performances.

"In terms of how the team and new coaching team is gelling, I am absolutely delighted with the new set-up. I think all the players are responding positively and you can see that in our last two victories. Hopefully it will provide us with the platform to finish this part of the season on a high."

LEINSTER:

15: Girvan Dempsey
14: Shane Horgan
13: Luke Fitzgerald
12: Felipe Contepomi
11: Rob Kearney
10: Jonathan Sexton
9: Chris Whitaker CAPTAIN

1: Cian Healy
2: John Fogarty
3: Stan Wright
4: Devin Toner
5: Malcolm O'Kelly
6: Rocky Elsom
7: Shane Jennings
8: Jamie Heaslip

REPLACEMENTS FROM: Brian Blaney, CJ van der Linde, Trevor Hogan, Stephen Keogh, Sean O'Brien, Chris Keane, Gary Brown, Simon Keogh

REFEREE: Gwyn Morris (WRU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Rob Dickson (SRU), David Anderson (SRU), TMO: Ian Ramage (SRU)