Preview: Leinster v Glasgow

Glasgow have made one enforced change to their starting XV for Thursday's rearranged Magners League clash with Leinster.

Glasgow have made one enforced change to their starting line-up for Thursday's rearranged Magners League clash with Leinster.

Colin Shaw is unavailable as he is on Scotland Sevens duty ahead of this weekend's IRB Sevens World Series event in Adelaide.

Hefin O'Hare therefore comes in on the right wing, with the Warriors without 14 players due to injury or international call-ups.

Head Coach Sean Lineen, whose side's 19-19 draw at Connacht almost two weeks ago saw them blow the chance to go into Thursday's game as league leaders, said: “Considering injuries and call-ups, I've been really pleased by how the players have responded.

“I was impressed with how the players stepped up against Connacht, and since then, they have trained outstandingly well ahead of what is another significant step up against European champions Leinster.”

Thursday's top-of-the-table clash at the RDS is the second attempt to play this match after January's original fixture was claimed by the big freeze.

The game was controversially only postponed on the morning of the match after Glasgow had travelled to Dublin.

Meanwhile, Leinster will be led by hooker Bernard Jackman for their home Magners League meeting with the Warriors.

Malcolm O'Kelly will make his 180th appearance in blue, while on the other end of the spectrum there's a first home start for Eoin O'Malley and Paul Ryan, who made his senior debut for the province away to the Dragons at the beginning of December. He is rewarded with his home debut in a back-row which includes in-form duo Stephen Keogh and Kevin McLaughlin.

Jackman meanwhile is named in a powerful front-row alongside fellow Ireland international Mike Ross and South Africa's CJ van der Linde.

O'Malley continues his centre partnership with Fergus McFadden, while Paul O'Donohoe comes in at scrum-half alongside Shaun Berne who continues at fly-half.

Form: Just one match point separates top of the table Leinster and fourth placed Warriors, although Leinster do have a game in hand over their opponents. The Warriors have a poor away record in Dublin, whilst Leinster have not lost at the RDS since September 2008. The last six clashes between the two teams have all been won by the home side on the day. Glasgow Warriors have never won in eleven previous trips to Dublin to play Leinster in all competitions. Leinster are unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions since a 14-30 defeat against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade in the Magners League on 6 December. The Leinstermen have not been beaten at the RDS in the Magners League since Munster were the visitors on 28 September 2008. Glasgow Warriors are without a victory since beating the Dragons 29-25 at Firhill Arena in the European Cup on 15 January. The Warriors' most recent win outside of Scotland in the Magners League was 25-13 at Ulster on 4 December.

The teams:

Leinster: 15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 Simon Keogh, 13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Shaun Berne, 9 Paul O'Donohoe, 8 Stephen Keogh, 7 Paul Ryan, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Bernard Jackman (capt), 1 CJ van der Linde.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Stan Wright, 18 Trevor Hogan, 19 Eoin Sheriff, 20 Chris Keane, 21 Ian Madigan, 22 Michael Keating.

Glasgow: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Hefin O'Hare, 13 Peter Murchie, 12 Peter Horne, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Mark McMillan(c), 8 Richie Vernon, 7 Calum Forrester, 6 James Eddie, 5 Daniel Turner, 4 Tim Barker, 3 Ed Kalman, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Jon Welsh.
Replacements:16 Fergus Thomson, 17 Moray Low, 18 Rob Harley, 19 Chris Fusaro, 20 Colin Gregor, 21 Dave McCall, 22 Chris Kinloch.

Date: Thursday, March 18
Venue: RDS Dublin
Kick-off: 19.30 GMT
Referee:Nigel Owens (WRU)
Assistant referees:M Black (IRFU), M Hermin (IRFU).