The talk in Leinster this past week has been all about the trip to Thomond Park and the clash with Munster with the boys in blue quietly confident that they can complete a Magners League double.
This is a game that Leinster will view as very much a can-win event given the respective well being of the sides. With the obvious exception of Felipe Contepomi who is named in the squad, the D4 outfit will be at full strength.
The international warm weather junket to Portugal means effectively that Munster will have practically no preparation for a game that will act as preparation for the equally daunting trip to Galway three days later. Leinster on the other hand will have had 1-10, Malcolm O’Kelly excepted, available for training ahead of this game.
Paul O’Connell, Denis Leamy and John Hayes all left for Portugal in the early hours of Monday morning last carrying knocks from the bruising encounter with Cardiff Blues and Munster coach Declan Kidney must wait until Monday to assess their well being.
What he does know is that Alan Quinlan is not available following his suspension by ERC and that means a re-shuffle of the back-row with two from three of John O’Sullivan, Tim McGann or James Coughlan to be included in the match day 22.
If O’Connell, Leamy and Hayes are passed fit the squad will have a familiar look, whether Darragh Hurley or Federico Pucciariello get to wear the number 1 shirt being the only other imponderable.
In the backs, nine, ten, twelve, thirteen, fourteen and fifteen are safe enough bets while Ian Dowling, Lifiemi Mafi and Christian Cullen are all vying for inclusion in the match day 22.