Leinster are boosted by the return of several players who were unavailable during the recent Six Nations window including Isa Nacewa, who lines up at full-back in a back three which also features Andrew Conway and David Kearney - who scored a brace of tries last time out against the Dragons.
Isaac Boss partners the league's top points scorer and fellow Ireland international Ian Madigan (who has scored 127 points in 17 games to date) at half back, with the returning Gordon D'Arcy forming a midfield partnership with Eoin O'Malley.
Leo Cullen leads the team and partners Quinn Roux who makes his first senior appearance since the reverse fixture in November.
Shane Jennings is included in a strong home-grown back-row alongside Kevin McLaughlin and Jordi Murphy, with Heinke van der Merwe joining Ireland duo Sean Cronin and Michael Bent in the front row.
Meanwhile, Glasgow have made six personnel changes and one positional switch to the team that defeated Cardiff Blues earlier this month.
Tommy Seymour, Robert Harley, Tom Ryder, Ed Kalman, Dougie Hall and Moray Low all come into the starting XV, while Jon Welsh, Pat MacArthur, Gordon Reid and Ryan Wilson drop to the bench. Byron McGuigan and Tim Swinson are not included in the 23-man squad.
Nikola Matawalu keeps the number nine jersey and Duncan Weir is given the nod at fly-half ahead of Ruaridh Jackson, after starting the last two of Scotland's games against Ireland and France.
Peter Horne and Alex Dunbar continue their centre partnership, with Peter Murchie once again deployed at full-back.
Canadian winger DTH van der Merwe starts on the left wing, with Seymour replacing Byron McGuigan on the opposite side.
"We have been on a fantastic run of form lately, but Leinster will provide an extremely tough challenge for us and we'll need to be at our best if we're to come away with a positive result," said Glasgow boss Gregor Townsend.
"It's been good to have our full squad back together again after the Six Nations and training has been very competitive and sharp this week. We travel to Dublin having put ourselves in a good position in the league, but nothing is won until May and we still have a lot of work to do."
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Dave Kearney, 13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Conway, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Issac Boss, 8 Jordi Murphy, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Quinn Roux 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 Michael Bent, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Aaron Dundon, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Dominic Ryan, 21 John Cooney, 22 Brendan Macken, 23 Fionn Carr.
Glasgow: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Alex Dunbar, 12 Peter Horne, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Niko Matawalu, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 John Barclay, 6 Robert Harley, 5 Alastair Kellock, 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Ed Kalman, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Moray Low.
Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 James Eddie, 20 Ryan Wilson, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Sean Lamont.
Date: Saturday, March 23
Kick-off: 19:45
Venue: RDS
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Leo Colgan (Ireland), Barrie O'Connell (Ireland)
Television match official: Dermot Moloney (Ireland)
Comments
leinster_goy says...
@papachinzo
it's interesting that this free-scoring, supposedly formidable glasgow side was nilled by a under-strength Leinster last november at their own ground. in fact, my recollection of that match is that despite having most possession, they never even got close to our try-line. i'm not convinced at all by their position in the pro12. the term "flat-track bullies" springs to mind. i'll be amazed if they finish up in the play-offs
also, glasgow finished rock bottom of their Heino pool this season. that pretty much fits the definition of 'muck'
@PR
congratulations on publishing talksalotofshit's comment. do you condone homophobia? i'm actually not gay myself, but it's good to know where planet rugby's moral compass is firmly pointed
Posted 17:23 23rd March 2013
tellitlikeitis says...
Leinster gay, youre some fool pal.
Posted 03:15 23rd March 2013
papachinzo says...
This may look like a 2nd string Leinster side, but bar van der Merwe, Nacewa and Conway, this is basically what Leinster will look like next season...
@leinster_goy: Yeah, Glasgow are muck, and that's why they're only 2nd on the league table...
Posted 20:10 22nd March 2013
leinster_goy says...
Leinster should win this handy. glasgow are muck
Posted 14:29 22nd March 2013