Leinster coach Leo Cullen has made eight changes for tonight’s Guinness Pro 12 fixtures against Glasgow Warriors (Scotstoun Stadium, 7.35pm).

Victory against Gregor Townsend’s men would help the Blues to leapfrog current pace-setters Connacht, but although the seventh-placed Warriors have had a mixed campaign, Cullen feels they are capable of making a late push for a top-four spot.

“They’re sitting seventh in the table and have a couple of games in hand.

“So, if they pick up nine points out of those two games, they’re very much in the shake-up. We played Glasgow just post-World Cup, so both teams were similarly affected at that stage. We were lucky just to sneak that win at home. It’s going to be another really tough challenge for us.”

With 13 players in Joe Schmidt’s initial squad for Ireland’s clash with Scotland tomorrow, Cullen’s hand has been restricted for this rescheduled fixture.

However, the return of Dave Kearney from injury is a timely-boost, and he will be joined by Zane Kirchner and captain Isa Nacewa in a potent back-three.

Garry Ringrose and Ben Te’o are paired in the Blues’ midfield for the sixth game in succession, while Peter Dooley, James Tracy and Dan Leavy are in the pack.

Michael Bent, the fit-again Isaac Boss and Noel Reid are expected to see action from the replacements bench, where former Ireland U20 star Joey Carbery is in line to make his first-team debut on the back of his impressive form for Leinster ‘A’.

LEINSTER:

Z Kirchner; I Nacewa, G Ringrose, B Te’o, D Kearney; C Marsh, L McGrath; P Dooley, J Tracy, T Furlong; M Kearney, H Triggs; D Ryan, D Leavy, J Murphy.

Replacements:

B Byrne, J Loughman, M Bent, R Molony, P Timmins, I Boss, J Carbery, N Reid.

GLASGOW WARRIORS:

P Murchie; L Jones, M Bennett, S Johnson, R Hughes; R Clegg, G Hart; G Reid, F Brown, S Puafisi; G Peterson, L Nakarawa; J Eddie, S Favaro, A Ashe.

Replacements:

J Malcolm, J Yanuyanutawa, Z Fagerson, S Cummings, T Holmes, A Price, N Grigg, G Bryce.