Leinster team to face Connacht

Kevin McLaughlin is named in the starting line-up for the first time this season and forms an all-Ireland back-row alongside Sean O'Brien and Shane Jennings, who leads the side. Nathan Hines lines up alongside Devin Toner at second row, with Heinke van der Merwe starting in the front row alongside Richardt Strauss and Clint Newland.

Andrew Conway starts on the right wing in a back three which also includes Dave Kearney and Isa Nacewa, with Eoin O'Malley taking his place in the midfield with Fergus McFadden. Paul O'Donohoe makes his 14thLeinster appearance and links up with Shaun Berne at half-back.

Stephen Keogh joins the likes of Eoin Reddan and Mike Ross on a replacements bench which contains youth and experience.

Over 16,500 tickets have now been sold for Saturday's game and tickets will be on sale at the gate and are available online from www.leinsterrugby.ie, Spar (Donnybrook), the Leinster Rugby Store (Donnybrook) and Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.

LEINSTER:

15: Isa Nacewa

14: Andrew Conway

13: Eoin O'Malley

12: Fergus McFadden

11: Dave Kearney

10: Shaun Berne

9: Paul O'Donohoe

1: Heinke van der Merwe

2: Richardt Strauss

3: Clint Newland

4: Nathan Hines

5: Devin Toner

6: Kevin McLaughlin

7: Shane Jennings CAPTAIN

8: Sean O'Brien

REPLACEMENTS:

16: Tom Sexton

17: Jack McGrath

18: Mike Ross

19: Ed O'Donoghue

20: Stephen Keogh

21: Eoin Reddan

22: Ian Madigan

23: Niall Morris

REFEREE: John Lacey (IRFU), ASSISTANT REFEREES: Leo Colgan, Jude Quinn (both IRFU), TMO: Marshall Kilgore (IRFU)