European Cup: Team check

LEINSTER

Coach Matt Williams will today confirm the Leinster team for Friday night's game against Newport at Donnybrook.

Brian O'Driscoll remains the main concern after suffering a damaged finger and a knee strain while playing for Ireland last weekend. The Blackrock centre has been having physiotherapy a couple of times a day since and the Leinster team management is optimistic he will be available.

Team manager Ken Ging confirmed they may leave a vacancy in the team allowing O'Driscoll another 24 hours to prove his fitness. If he is ruled out then Australian Adam Magro would deputise in the centre with Peter McKenna coming onto the bench. The province has no other injury concerns.

MUNSTER

Munster coach Declan Kidney has named an unchanged side, from the one that defeated Harlequins for Friday's encounter with Bridgend at The Bewery Field (7.05 p.m.).

The only changes, from the squad that travelled to England, occur among the replacements, with James Blaney in for the injured John Fogarty (shoulder), Mike Prendergast preferred to Derek Hegarty and the return to action of Alan Quinlan meaning the omission of Donncha O'Callaghan.

MUNSTER: J Staunton (Garryowen); J Kelly (Cork Con), M Mullins (Young Munster), J Holland (Midleton), A Horgan (Cork Con); R O'Gara (Cork Con), P Stringer (Shannon); P Clohessy (Young Munster), F Sheahan (Cork Con), J Hayes (Shannon); M Galwey capt (Shannon), M O'Driscoll (Cork Con); J Williams (Cork Con), D Wallace (Garryowen), A Foley (Shannon). Replacements. M Horan (Shannon), J Blaney (Shannon), P O'Connell (Young Munster), A Quinlan (Shannon), M Prendergast (Young Munster), K Keane (Garryowen), C McMahon (Shannon).

ULSTER

David Humphreys' chances of playing for Ulster against Stade Francais at Stade Jean Bouin on Saturday appear to be getting better by the day. Having damaged ankle ligaments in Ireland's victory over England, the Ulster outhalf had an x-ray on the ankle: there are no broken bones.

Team manager Joe Miles confirmed: "He has received intensive physiotherapy since Monday and we are digesting the medical diagnosis after each 24-hour period.

"We will give him a further 24 hours to recover if necessary - Ulster are expected to confirm their team today - so that he can play. We would be optimistic that he will be available."

CONNACHT

Connacht have been devastated by serious injuries ahead of Saturday's Parker Pen Shield clash with Sale Sharks at the Sportsground (2.0).

Captain and second-row Mark McConnell underwent surgery on a damaged back yesterday and the prognosis is that he will be out for 8 to 10 weeks. Number eight Des Dillon could also be out for five weeks after damaging a thumb while South African-born hooker Marnus Uijs is sidelined with a back problem that could take several weeks to come right. It is a huge blow for coach Steph Nel as he tries to build on Connacht's excellent start to the Shield.

Promising young openside Johnny O'Connor is also missing having been sent off against Roma. He will be eligible for the return game against Sale after serving his three-week suspension. Damien Browne comes into the second row in place of McConnell while Tommy Kearns is named at hooker.

Old Belvedere hooker Henry Bourke comes onto the bench as does Trinity second-row Alan Maher. Colm Rigney deputises for Dillon in the back row.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; P Duignan, D Yapp, T Allnutt, W Munn; E Elwood (capt), E Reddan; D McFarland, T Kearns, P Bracken; D Browne, R Frost; J Charlie, C Rigney, P Neville. Replacements: R McCormack, H Bourke, A Maher, M Swift, J Ferris, M McHugh, M McPhail.

CASTRES

Former South Africa coach Nick Mallett is being linked with the Castres job after the club sacked Alain Gaillard. The French side are in Munster's pool in the Heineken European Cup and while they have managed one win in two games in that competition, their form in the French Championship - two wins to date - has been poor.

Assistant Jean-Francois Beltran has taken temporary charge and will oversee the preparations for Sunday's European Cup game against Harlequins at The Stoop. Mallett though is believed to be the preferred choice of the club's board. He has not coached since being replaced as coach to the Springboks by Harry Viljoen.