European Cup: John O'Sullivan finds Leinster's coach in pragmatic mood before their opening big test.

Michael Cheika appears unconcerned when confronting the slings and arrows of fortune, his philosophical approach perhaps symptomatic of his Australian heritage. The Leinster coach doesn't look for excuses or place much store in misfortune.

When asked to offer his feelings on the training injury sustained by Denis Hickie, Cheika shrugged: "It's part of the game, mate. You have got to train, got to have the physical work at training. In fact I think Denis (Hickie) was in my office a week or two before saying that the backs need to do a bit more contact work. I bet he's regretting it now.

"You have got to look at the positive side. When it happened, I thought we lost him for the season. The result at the end of the day is not a good one but it is better than we thought. He'll have an opportunity to get back for the next round and possibly get himself available for the Six Nations, which is important to the player and the team. That's just the nature of the beast, it happens.

"Something you can't have control over. A week earlier we tore shreds out of each other (in training). (On Monday) we were doing some contact work. It wasn't anything out of control. It just happens. That's why you build a squad. We're very lucky that we have good depth in that area.

"It closes the door this time for Denis but it opens one for Robert Kearney and Kieran Lewis. It's the same with the (Christian) Warner injury which is a real shame because I thought Christian was coming into his own a little bit in his game on the weekend."

Leinster are without Hickie, Warner, Brian O'Driscoll, Guy Easterby and Eric Miller, the latter still not rehabilitated from some "bone bruising in his ankle."

Bath too are handicapped by the suspensions handed down to centre Andrew Higgins and prop David Barnes, both of whom will miss the match.

On the topic of Leinster's opponents at the RDS on Saturday, Cheika expanded: "I know John (Connolly, Bath coach) and his style. They're a big rumbling team. They like to play the game physically and at close quarters but have some good pace out wide in Frikki Welsh and (David) Bory.

"When they isolate those situations, the mismatch or the numbers they will definitely throw it wide. (Matt) Perry is a good counter-attacker; he'll take the ball back all day. You have to be careful in the way you set out your game strategy. We've put our heads together to find one that will serve us well."

The issue of Leinster's two victories over Bath in the same competition last season was explored but Cheika was quick to point out that the personnel on both sides would not be identical. He counselled against placing too much store in what had transpired in the past.

"You can use your experience from the last time but not judge by it," he said.

His point is that there are changes to the dynamic that prevailed the last time the teams met in terms of not alone personnel but weather.

The press conference was not without its lighter moments. Girvan Dempsey and Gordon D'Arcy were perched either side of Cheika at the top table and were asked about the new coaching regime.

It hardly constituted a shock to learn that the players were highly complimentary, prompting Cheika to finally intervene: "(That's) two selection issues off the table every week. The boys are alright."

D'Arcy also drew laughter when asked about Leinster assistant coach David Knox. "Knoxy is a bit of an oddball at the best of times which suits me down to the ground. I am not exactly a normal lad myself."

The Lions and Ireland centre went on to add that he enjoyed the current set-up, especially the relaxed nature of the coaching staff. In the game at the Recreations Ground last season, Bath destroyed the Leinster lineout and, given it's a sector that has suffered a few hiccups this season, Cheika was asked to comment on that facet of play.

"I was happy with Dave Blaney's performance. The lineout is a group activity and is broken up into the call, movement, reaction and then the action of the thrower. It must be judged as a group.

"All of our hookers - Dave, Bernard Jackman and Brian Blaney have all been practising hard in training."

About 10,000 tickets - there is a capacity of 13,500 for the Bath match at the RDS - have been sold and while Leinster traditionally have a sizeable "walk-up" market, those who wait until the day might be disappointed.

The extended Leinster squad includes Malcolm O'Kelly, rugby league utility back Jonny Hepworth (he's likely to make the match squad) and New Zealander Cameron Jowitt.

LEINSTER SQUAD: B O'Meara, B O'Riordan, E Hickey, F Contepomi, J Hepworth, K Lewis, S Horgan, R Kearney, G D'Arcy, G Dempsey, R Corrigan, R McCormack, W Green, E Byrne, B Jackman, D Blaney, M O'Kelly, B Williams, B Gissing, D Dillon, C Jowitt, C Potts, K Gleeson, N Ronan, J Heaslip