GUINNESS PRO12:
Leinster v Ospreys
As they welcome Pro12 leaders Ospreys to the RDS this evening, Leinster coach Matt O’Connor has made six changes to the team that drew 24-24 draw with Benetton Treviso last weekend.

The most notable alterations are the inclusions of returning internationals Ian Madigan and Eoin Reddan at inside centre and scrum-half respectively, with Rhys Ruddock and Gordon D’Arcy also included in the replacements.

Steve Tandy’s men have had some memorable outings against the Blues in the recent past, and although the Welsh outfit are missing 19 players through Testcommitments and injury, O’Connor is wary of the threat they pose.

“It doesn’t really change our thinking [the Osprey injuries]. They showed last week at Ulster and all year that they’re very, very tenacious,” O’Connor said yesterday.

“They’ve been very hard to beat this year and I wouldn’t expect them to be any different, even though they’re down on a few bodies.

“We’ve got a few blokes missing ourselves and it’s a pretty pivotal game in relation to the league and the standings.

“There’s less and less opportunities to play teams above you and take points off them so that’s a huge focus for us.”

Playing alongside regular half-back partner Jimmy Gopperth, Reddan captains the team in the absence of Jamie Heaslip.

Fergus McFadden makes a welcome return in the Leinster midfield, while DaveKearney (who made a try-scoring comeback in Italy on Sunday) retains his place in the back-three.

The newly-capped Dominic Ryan also steps up to the back-row instead of Kevin McLaughlin, and he will joined there by Jordi Murphy, who has recovered from a troublesome shoulder injury.

With hooker Richardt Strauss also ruled out, and Sean Cronin not included in thematch day squad, Bryan Byrne is afforded a chance to shine in the front-row.

LEINSTER: Z Kirchner; D Fanning, F McFadden, I Madigan, D Kearney; J Gopperth, E Reddan; M Bent, B Byrne, T Furlong; M McCarthy, K Douglas; D Ryan, J Murphy, J Conan.

Replacements: J Tracy, P Dooley, J Hagan, T Denton, R Ruddock, I Boss, N Reid, G D’Arcy.

OSPREYS: D Evans; A Natoga, A Bishop, H Dirksen, T Grabham; S Davies, M Roberts; M Thomas, S Parry, D Arhip; L Peers, T Ardron; J Bearman, S Lewis, D Baker.

Replacements: S Otten, G Thomas, C Griffiths, R Bernardo, I Jones, T Habberfield, J Matavesi, D Howells.