Bath take on defending Heineken Cup champions Leinster for the second time in two weeks at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.
Bath, who last qualified for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup in 2009, need to return home to the West country with a victory from their trip to Dublin if they are to keep their hopes of qualification alive.
The Irish province have an impressive home record and have won their last eight games in Dublin in the tournament, while Bath have lost their last three away games in Europe.
The Dubliners, who were crowned European champions last season, came home with a 18-13 away win from the Recreation Ground in the first clash of the double-header between the sides.
Bath have named a virtually unchanged side to travel to Dublin as they prepare to make up for last week's defeat.
David Flatman, Chris Biller and David Wilson continue in the front row, with Dave Attwood and Ryan Caldwell combining in the second row. Bath captain Francois Louw returns at blindside, with Guy Mercer at openside and Simon Taylor at number eight completing the pack.
Michael Claassens and Stephen Donald continue to form their half-back partnership.
The only change to the starting XV comes in the backs, where Dan Hipkiss is ruled out with a knock picked up last week. Matt Banahan shifts from the wing to outside centre, with Nick Abendanon moving to the wing and Sam Vesty coming in at full-back.
There is a welcome return to the bench for Ross Batty and Ben Williams who both come back into the squad following injuries.
Leinster will know a win over Bath would secure their position at the top of Pool 3 and put them in the driving seat for a Heineken Cup quarter-finals place.
There are a few changes to the Leinster team with Eoin Reddan partnering Jonathan Sexton at half back and Shane Jennings coming into the back row alongside fellow Ireland internationals Sean O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip.
Devin Toner partners another Ireland international, skipper Leo Cullen, at second row.
Luke Fitzgerald continues in the back three alongside Rob Kearney and Isa Nacewa.
Meanwhile, Eoin O'Malley (who will make his 40th Leinster appearance on Saturday) forms a centre partnership with Fergus McFadden for the first time in the Heineken Cup.
Gordon D'Arcy, limited by a minor niggle in training earlier this week, will provide extra firepower from a replacements bench which includes six Ireland internationals.
The teams:
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Isa Nacewa, 13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Johnny Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Sean O'Brien, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Leo Cullen, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Heinke Van Der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Nathan White, 19 Kevin McLaughlin, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Gordon D'Arcy.
Bath: 15 Sam Vesty, 14 Jack Cuthbert, 13 Matt Banahan, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Nick Abendanon, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Simon Taylor, 7 Guy Mercer, 6 Francois Louw (c), 5 Ryan Caldwell, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 David Wilson, 2 Chris Biller, 1 David Flatman.
Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Nathan Catt, 18 Anthony Perenise, 19 Will Spencer, 20 Andy Beattie, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Tom Heathcote, 23 Ben Williams.
Date: Saturday, 17 December
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 18:00 GMT
Referee: Romain Poite
Comments
damo says...
Hey marzie, fair play to Darcy he has been a solid pro firstly, secondly did you watch the game, note my comments are Darcy didn't play against Cardiff and Leinster hammered them, he didn't play against Bath and look at Leinster go. Luke Fitzgerald is at the top of his game and his non selection for the RWC is entirely the Irish managements fault.I will draw your attention to the Lions tour of SA Roberts came home as the man of the tournament having played beside BOD. My point is a good 12 would have scored numerous trys in all competitions with BOD attracting the defenders and making his sniping breaks. darc managed 7 trys in 63 games for Ireland Jonathan Davies managed 5 in 21 for Wales and looks like scoring every game
Posted 11:34 18th December 2011
marzie says...
"I often question why Darcy is in the team considering he played for years beside the worlds best 13 and never managed to impress."
A little unfair on a man who had legitimate claims to being one of the world's finest inside centres around the mid-noughties. I doubt Brian O'Driscoll would have swapped him for anyone else in the world. To come back from the horrible arm injury he suffered four years ago - anyone remember the look on D'Arcy's face as he explained the litany of operations and treatments he had to undergo when talking to Pat Kenny? - showed he has the heart of a lion. Plus, he's a thoroughly nice chap to boot.
I hate this tidal wave of retroactive crap that's come GD's way since his form began to tail off a couple of years ago. The sort of rubbish spouted by people who clearly never watched a rugby game before Ireland's Grand Slam win. It's hardly D'Arcy's fault Declan Kidney keeps picking him for Ireland is it, nor that successive Leinster coaches value his courage and experience in the biggest games?
There is a case to be made for fresh blood at 12, but to denigrate the man's achievements and talent, no matter how faded... bloody hell.
Posted 13:17 17th December 2011
damo says...
Dynamic pack for Leinster is the difference between these teams. Darcy is on the bench and the last time this happened Leinster put up a cricket score on their opponents Cardiff. I often question why Darcy is in the team considering he played for years beside the worlds best 13 and never managed to impress. Fair play to Luke he is a rising star and has everything a pro rugby player needs including the ability to rise up above not going to the RWC while watching some inferior players travelling with Ireland
Posted 11:13 17th December 2011
J_HDK says...
Over confidence only helps the opposition
Posted 23:45 16th December 2011
crunchfit says...
@leinster_goy
It's working. Can't really criticise it. I can't remember uncertainty of the first choice XV being a problem for the last couple of years, at least.
Posted 19:28 16th December 2011
D4tress says...
From 1 to 22 Leinster are stronger in every single position. The only close call here is Caldwell v Toner, but I think Toners height gives him the advantage.
Bath are going to get torn ass from hip tomorrow night. Leinster by 14+.
Posted 16:05 16th December 2011
APV1 says...
@ papachinzo - Hear! Hear!
Using only these 15 players, I'd have Banahan on the wing, with Abendanon at 15. Move Barkley to 13, with Vesty at 12. With only those players in the starting line up, that's how I'd play them. But I wouldn't choose 3 flyhalfs at 10, 12 and 13. Beaver at 10, with Olly at 12 is ok. But I'd put Williams in at 13 and put Vesty on the bench.
The squad's good at the moment, but the availability of players isn't. Too many injuries in key positions.
A cricket score? Perhaps. A Bath win? Unlikely. A good match? Oh yes.
Posted 14:32 16th December 2011
12Counties says...
Why no Healy? Is David Wilson that good a scrummager?
Posted 14:23 16th December 2011
papachinzo says...
Banahan was so effective on the wing last week, I don't see him doing much at Center. also Vesty at Fullback... horrible move!
Posted 13:36 16th December 2011
Bitathisnow says...
Im expecting Leinster to win by a cricket score tommorrow night, Bath are going to be destroyed....on another note,its nice to see O'Malley and McFadden playing together in the centre, I think thats a likely partnership for Ireland for this years 6 nations!!
Posted 13:18 16th December 2011
leinster_goy says...
more or less the same team that beat glasgow at the rds. it seems to me that schmidt intentionally picks certain players for away games (browne, mclaughlin, boss) then replaces them for home ties (toner, jennings, reddan). good to have a rotation policy but then again it would be better in the long run to decide on a first-choice 15 for every game
good to see seany at 6 once again. did i read some posts recently saying he should be dropped after last week? madness. we all have brief moments when we lose the plot - i came home last Saturday night and put my shoes in the toaster
Posted 13:12 16th December 2011