Hickie makes a timely return for Leinster

The connotations for Irish and Leinster rugby will dwarf what is ostensibly a friendly match. In a national context the performance of Denis Hickie on Leinster's left wing will be of particular interest to Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan who will be in attendance.

Hickie missed Ireland's summer tour of Australia, Tonga and Samoa through injury and O'Sullivan will be hoping that the player gets plenty of opportunities to prove his sharpness. The 30-man World Cup squad will be confirmed on Sunday, September 6th, the day after Ireland play Scotland at Murrayfield.

Game time is therefore precious to the aspirants. Given the depth of talent available in the second and back row positions, Leo Cullen is another for whom a high profile outing would be timely.

Brian O'Meara is vying with Neil Doak for the third scrumhalf slot on the plane to Australia and to facilitate him in concentrating on the basics of the position tonight, he won't be asked to do the place-kicking.

That role would have fallen to Christian Warner but a collision in training yesterday with Keith Gleeson makes him doubtful. Matthew Leek is set to deputise with his place on the bench going to the versatile Brendan Burke.

It's an important game from a Leinster perspective as well, the match marking the first competitive outing for new coach Gary Ella. It will allow him a fleeting glance at some of his Irish squad players before they head off for national team duties.

Ella made the point during the week that he was pleasantly surprised at the ability of the young players. The Celtic League will allow Kieran Lewis, Brian O'Riordan, Shane Jennings, James Norton, Gary Brown, Niall Ronan and John Lyne amongst others to fast track their senior education.

It also means Des Dillon, Ben Gissing, John McWeeney, Niall Treston, Aidan Kearney and Peter Coyle will become 'senior' players when the national panellists depart. Ella spoke briefly about his coaching philosophy, about wanting to play an expansive game, attractive rugby and the belief that he had the players to do that.

Captain Reggie Corrigan admitted: "It's looking good. We are playing slightly different patterns; a change is as good as a rest. The players have been eager to impress."

Gloucester, who are in Munster's Heineken European Cup pool for the second year in succession, won't have England players like Andy Gomarsall, Phil Vickery, Trevor Woodman and James Simpson Daniel in their panel.

Australian Duncan MacRae hasn't arrived yet while James Forrester and Andy Hazel are injured. The English club will not confirm their starting XV until this morning.

The Irish team management will have stipulated the playing time for several individuals tonight but it still promises to be an entertaining evening with perhaps the odd surprise or two.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; G D'Arcy, K Lewis, D Quinlan, D Hickie; C Warner/M Leek, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, N Treston; B Gissing, L Cullen; A McCullen, E Miller, K Gleeson. Replacements: D Molloy, G Hickie, A Kearney, S Jennings, D Dillon, B O'Riordan, M Leek/B Burke, J McWeeney, G Brown.

Leinster v Gloucester

Donnybrook (7.30)