Leinster's ranks decimated

Leinster head into the next three weeks of Magners League and Heineken Cup action with a number of injuries in the squad.

Leinster head into the next three weeks of Magners League and Heineken Cup action with a number of injuries in the squad.

The Leinstermen play the Dragons in Dublin on Saturday, before back-to-back Heineken Cup matches against Castres, in which two wins would all but cement their spot in the quarter-finals.

But captain Leo Cullen and centre Gordon D'Arcy are both out injured until the new year, with D'Arcy's return date still imprecise as he struggles to recover from multiple forearm fractures.

Felipe Contempomi's hand infection could keep him out of action for a month, after the Argentinian had the infection drained twice in the past seven days. That return date is also imprecise though.

Shane Jennings and Isa Nacewa are also doubtful, with Jennings struggling with a couple of knocks from Ireland's November series and Nacewa still in physio as he recovers from a broken arm.

Brian O'Driscoll, Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney are all fit, but are likely to be rested for the match against the Dragons.