Preview: Leinster v Munster

Leinster have named their starting line-up to face old rivals Munster at a sold-out RDS in the Magners League on Saturday.

Leinster have named their starting line-up to face old rivals Munster at a sold-out RDS in the Magners League on Saturday.

Brian O'Driscoll will make his first appearance of the season after being named in the XV.

The British & Irish Lions centre will partner Gordon D'Arcy in midfield, with Isa Nacewa starting at full-back in a three which includes Ireland duo Luke Fitzgerald and Shane Horgan.

Shane Jennings joins Kevin McLaughlin and Jamie Heaslip in the back-row with Nathan Hines again partnering skipper Leo Cullen from second row. Ireland international quartet Bernard Jackman, Rob Kearney, Malcolm O'Kelly and Mike Ross are named on a strong bench.

Meanwhile, Munster have named a whole host of those who played in the Heineken Cup semi-final defeat to Leinster in their squad to face the European champions.

And this game sees the appearance for the first time this season of Keith Earls, Ian Dowling, Jerry Flannery, Paul O'Connell and David Wallace while Paul Warwick returns to the match day squad after injuring a foot in the pre-season game against Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

Earls and O'Connell were due to turn out against Dragons last weekend but were denied by illness and injury respectively but both came through training yesterday with flying colours and while Earls is in from the off, the Lions captain will start from the bench.

“It's (the hamstring) fine now, not a problem. I have to manage it that's all, that's why the ice, and that's why I didn't play last week,” said O'Connell regarding his injury.

“I wont play a full game on Saturday cause it's my first game back rather than anything else really. I'm looking forward to getting back on the field. This game comes as the ideal preparation both for myself and the squad ahead of the European games coming up. Really looking forward to it.”

Form: Munster achieved a Magners League double over Leinster last season, but the Leinstermen did win when the two clashed in the semi-final of the European Cup at Croke Park in May. The Champions collide head on at the RDS with Magners League winners Munster taking on European Cup holders Leinster. Leinster have won their last three games in the Magners League and have won their last ten matches at the RDS in all competitions. Munster are the only visiting team to have won at the RDS in Leinster's last 23 games at the venue since October 2007, doing so with an 18-0 scoreline last September. Munster have also won their last three encounters, but have been victorious in just one of their last five away games against fellow Irish provinces.

The teams:

Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 3 Stan Wright, 2 John Fogarty, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Bernard Jackman, 17 Mike Ross, 18 Malcolm O'Kelly, 19 Sean O'Brien, 20 Simon Keogh, 21 Fergus McFadden, 22 Rob Kearney.

Munster: 15 Keith Earls, 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Lifeimi Mafi, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Denis Hurley, 10 Ronan O'Gara (capt), 9 Tomas O'Leary, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Denis Leamy, 5 Mick O'Driscoll, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Denis Fogarty, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Jerry Flannery, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 Paul O'Connell, 19 David Wallace, 20 Paul Warwick, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 Ian Dowling.

Date: Saturday, October 3
Kick-off: 18:30 BST
Venue: RDS
Referee: Simon McDowell (IRFU)
Assistant referees: David Wilkinson (IRFU), Michael Black (IRFU)
4th offical: Peter Dennehy (ARLB)
TMO: Peter Ferguson (IRFU)