MAGNERS LEAGUE MUNSTER v LEINSTER:THE PROOF will be in the pudding, or at any rate in the starting teams when they are confirmed tomorrow. But, following Munster's statement of intent in welcoming back 11 of Ireland's 22 Grand Slam winners, so Leinster have flexed their muscles in advance of Saturday's summit meeting in Thomond Park, writes GERRY THORNLEY

Brian O’Driscoll, Jamie Heaslip, Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney were named in an expanded squad of 29 after being rested for the win over Ulster following their exploits in the Six Nations. And Ronnie McCormack, Stephen Keogh, Chris Keane and Paul O’Donohue have also been added to the 22 who were on duty last Sunday.

“We have them available; it’s a matter of what we decide to do at this point,” commented coach Michael Cheika. “We’ll see what the best way of framing the 22 is a bit later in the week.”

Cheika has left all his difficult decisions in the air for the time being, pending how they go in training. Such is the province’s eagerness to play Springbok prop CJ van der Linde he may be given until Saturday, but Cheika, mindful that Leinster have a shorter turnaround between matches, is placing greater store in their collective mentality going into the game.

“We need to get a good recovery under our belts. We’re going down to play the European Champions in their own back yard and we have to bring a certain attitude if we want to compete. We’re looking to improve on the Ulster performance, and for longer.

“We’re hurting after getting beaten here earlier in the season,” he added in reference to Munster’s 18-0 win at the RDS, “and we’ll do our best to reverse that result for our fans and for ourselves.”

Asked about avenging that result in full, Cheika expressed no preference for a winning margin of one or 20 points. “The main focus is to win, and to really get stuck in. And if we can get ourselves sorted out in the course of the week – we’ve a shorter turnaround than them, obviously – then Saturday’s game is all about attitude.”

Leinster haven’t had the same withdrawals during the Six Nations weeks as Munster have had to endure, and therefore haven’t had to dig as deep into their reserves. This is especially true up front where, apart from Heaslip, the pack will be pretty much along the same lines as that which has steered them to seven wins in eight league and cup outings. And Leo Cullen is back in harness to lead the side.

The half-back pairing, or more specifically the outhalf position, also appears to have been resolved, given Felipe Contepomi has started the last three wins there. Indeed, Leinster are five from five this season when Contepomi has started at outhalf, and the last time they lost with the Puma wearing the number 10 jersey was away to Leicester in January 2008.

With Chris Whitaker also back to full fitness, last season’s first-choice half-back pairing look set to start together for only the fourth time this season.

Presumably, too, the excellent form of Gordon D’Arcy and O’Driscoll will see them renew the partnership that helped seal the Grand Slam: it would be the first time they formed the Leinster midfield since that defeat to Leicester.

If so, though, that leaves Cheika with perhaps his most difficult decision in the back three, where five in to three won’t go: Kearney and Fitzgerald return to contention along with the resident triumvirate of the last three wins, Isa Nacewa, Girvan Dempsey and Shane Horgan.

Unless the shoulder injury which forced Fitzgerald from the Millennium Stadium pitch three minutes from time rules him out, or the back spasm that has bothered Kearney does likewise, then it will be the first time Cheika has truly had all his frontline backs fully fit and available.

D’Arcy was deemed not quite match sharp when on the bench in the January Heineken Cup games against Wasps and Edinburgh after three outings on the wing.

Then it was he and Dempsey who were confined to the bench, when Cheika was still persisting with Nacewa at outhalf.

The likelihood is that Fitzgerald and Kearney return to the starting line-up, with Cheika to choose between Horgan and Nacewa on the wing.

Such an embarrassment of riches couldn’t have come at a more opportune time, as Leinster face into back-to-back games away to Munster and Harlequins on Sunday week in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, which could make or break their season. Were Munster to win on Saturday, it would put them seven or eight points clear, and with three of their last four games at home: their run-in is Connacht (h), Scarlets (h), Cardiff (a) and the Ospreys (h).

Leinster’s league run-in, after Saturday, is: Edinburgh (a), Glasgow (h), Llanelli (h) and the Dragons (a).

“It’s going to be in our heads,” Cheika said when asked what the big challenges facing Leinster would be this weekend, “but if we’re ready for the battle we’ll be in with the shout.”

Leinster completed a rare double over their great rivals of recent times last season with a win in Musgrave Park, which went a long way toward securing the league title. Thomond Park rarely gets to host this collision, for although Leinster lost there two years ago, prior to that their last visit to Thomond Park was in the old interpros in December 1995, when a try by Alain Rolland and 14 points from the boot of Alan McGowan helped secure a 19-18 win.

This will be their first meeting at the redeveloped Thomond Park and has been a near 26,000 sell-out for months, with Leinster expected to bring up to 6,000 supporters.

LEINSTER (squad v Munster):Forwards (15): C Healy, R McCormack, J Fogarty, B Jackman, CJ van der Linde, S Wright, L Cullen, T Hogan, M O'Kelly, R Elsom, C Jowitt, S Jennings, S O'Brien, J Heaslip, S Keogh. Backs (14): C Keane, P O'Donohoe, C Whitaker, F Contepomi, J Sexton, L Fitzgerald, S Keogh, I Nacewa, G D'Arcy, F McFadden, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, G Dempsey, R Kearney.