Leinster are hopeful that Mike Ross (calf) will be available for selection for the Magners League opener in Firhill this Friday night. The Leinster and Ireland prop will train on Wednesday and a decision on his availability will be made when the team is announced after training on Wednesday afternoon.
Leinster's international contingent continued their strength and conditioning programme this week and there's a possibility that up to two Ireland players could be available, depending on the outcome of fitness tests within the squad.
Speaking ahead of Friday's Magners League opener, Leinster Skills and Kicking Coach Richie Murphy said:
"I think that Glasgow will give us a very big test. They play a nice brand of rugby, they've got some serious ball carriers and they play with a lot of width so, because of that, they will pose a threat. They're a reasonably settled side, even though they have a few injuries like ourselves, but they'll be throwing everything at us on Friday night.
"When some of the international lads come back it will give the (younger) guys a lot of confidence. The players who have played so far have been the younger guys and they have had a lot of good experience. They have all learned a lot but with the senior guys coming back into the panel over the next three or four weeks it will help cement down what we're trying to do and help give us a little bit more direction. In saying that the guys that have been there have played very well.
"It's a learning curve and we're obviously trying to change a little bit in the way that we're trying to play the game. With a lot of young personnel being there (also), any mistakes that we have made (against Wasps and Leicester Tigers) have been punished heavily. But we have definitely taken a step forward this week and this week again it's about stepping up (because) we're in a situation where we're playing for points now so we have to do the business on Friday night.
"The new players have settled in very well and the one thing you can say about Leinster over the past few years is that there are no airs and graces when anyone comes in. Everyone's treated the same, there's good camaraderie between the players and I think that the young guys have settled in well after a steep learning curve in the first two matches."
The full audio and televised interview with Richie Murphy from Leinster TV is available upon request by return e-mail.
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