Leinster squad to face Ulster

CJ van der Linde, who featured for the province for the first time since March in last weekend's 36-13 victory over Brive, is again named in the extended panel for this weekend's Interprovincial derby alongside Rob Kearney and Kevin McLaughlin (2) who were try scorers last weekend.

Jonathan Sexton, who has accumulated 56 league points so far this season, joins 13 Ireland senior internationals including Gordon D'Arcy, Shane Horgan and Brian O'Driscoll, each of whom were try-scorers in Leinster's last Magners League victory, against Munster in the RDS.

The team is expected to be named on Friday lunchtime.

Meanwhile, over 14,000 tickets have been sold for Leinster's final home Magners League game before Christmas on Saturday, October 31st against the Cardiff Blues (KO: 6.30pm). Dubbed the 'Halloween Thriller', which will be sponsored by Magners, there will be trick or treating with goodie bags for any children in fancy dress, while the best 200 adults in fancy dress will receive a free pint of Bulmers. There will also be a house of horrors, pre-match music from the River Valley Band, a half time show, jugglers and magicians, Halloween Games, and many more surprises.... Tickets are available to purchase on www.leinsterrugby.ie

Leinster squad to face Ulster

FORWARDS: Leo Cullen, John Fogarty, Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip, Nathan Hines, Bernard Jackman, Shane Jennings, Stephen Keogh, Ronan McCormack, Kevin McLaughlin, Malcolm O'Kelly, Sean O'Brien, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, CJ van der Linde

BACKS: Shaun Berne, Gordon D'Arcy, Girvan Dempsey, Luke Fitzgerald, Shane Horgan, Chris Keane, Rob Kearney, Simon Keogh, Fergus McFadden, Isa Nacewa, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin Reddan, Jonathan Sexton

REFEREE: Andrew Small (RFU), ASSISTANT REFEREE: John Lacey (IRFU), Jude Quinn (IRFU), TMO: John Carvill (IRFU)

Speaking ahead of Saturday's Interprovincial derby, Leinster Consultant Coach ALAN GAFFNEY said that the squad are determined to maintain top spot in the Magners League against an improved Ulster side...

"To go to France and win is always tough, so we were pleased to get the four points. Speaking from personal experience, I haven't won there too often during my experience as a coach in Europe. The players showed great strength of character and resolve to bounce back from the London Irish defeat and though we perhaps weren't as clinical as we would have like to be in the closing quarter of the match, we got the win and it sets us up when the next rounds of the Heineken Cup come along in December.

"Before the two recent Heineken Cup games we defeated Munster in the RDS and the squad were delighted with that result. We played very well and as a group we take the Magners League very seriously because it's a competition that we want to win. You have to perform consistently to make the top four and we have our sights on week by week performances.

"Against Brive our set piece was strong and our lineout was good all day. We had to adapt to an unseen Brive defensive structure, but the players adjusted and they deserve a lot of credit for that. Perhaps we weren't as expansive as we would have liked but we're mindful that you need to adjust to what's in front of you on the day.

"There will be some tough selections in both the backs and forwards this week, which is good because it breeds competition in training and it keeps all the players on their toes. It was encouraging for someone like Kev (McLaughlin) to come in and perform as he did coming off the bench while it was also good for CJ (van der Linde) to get some game time because he's a world class player who can make a big impact for us this season.

"We face an exciting test against an Ulster side who have been in impressive form recently. Though Leinster have a good record up in Ravenhill of late, it is a difficult place to play and it is an even tougher place to win. They performed strongly against Bath the week before last and were unlucky by all accounts not to get a win against Edinburgh on Saturday. They probably feel as though they should have walked away with the spoils, which is no mean feat because Murrayfield is a tough place to get a win.

"There's a strong blend of youth and experience across their team. While a lot has been made of the exciting young up-and-coming forwards and backs like Chris Henry and Darren Cave, for example, there's also a core spine of talented experienced heads in there. Guys like Tom Court, Brendon Botha and Andy Kyriacou are supplemented by the likes of Isaac Boss, Andrew Trimble and Paddy Wallace who have been around for a long time.

"Ulster are going to be tough opponents because they are a side on the up. We will need to be accurate and physical in our approach this weekend and the players are aware of the need to improve."