Last-chance saloon

Celtic League Previews: The physical legacy of Ireland's Six Nations victory over Scotland and the fact Leinster are struggling at the bottom of the Celtic League table means several of their Irish squad players have been given a two-week break.

Brian O'Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Reggie Corrigan, Shane Byrne, Malcolm O'Kelly and Victor Costello have been excused duty by coach Gary Ella.

To compound matters wings Brendan Burke (back) and John McWeeney (knee) are out. Girvan Dempsey is at full back, Gordon D'Arcy is back to partner Felipe Contepomi in the centre. Gary Brown and James Norton switch to the wings from centre and full back respectively. Ciarán Potts is nursing a leg strain so Aidan Kearney joins Ben Gissing in the second row. Des Dillon will lead the side from number eight.

Glasgow make eight changes to the side thrashed 37-12 by Munster at Hughenden last week including the return of four Scottish internationals - centre Andrew Henderson, outhalf Dan Parks, hooker Gordon Bulloch and number eight Jon Petrie.

Leinster broke a six-match losing streak last week against The Borders. Norton and flanker Niall Ronan impressed last week; as the season draws to a close some players are scrapping for contracts. Ireland under-21 captain David Gannon has been handed a place on the bench, an acknowledgement of his potential.

As Leinster limp toward the conclusion of a disappointing season, Ella will have an eye to the next campaign and so for several players the last-chance saloon gets every closer.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; G Brown, F Contepomi, G D'Arcy, J Norton; M Leek, B O'Meara; J Lyne, D Blaney, P Coyle; A Kearney, B Gissing; A McCullen, D Dillon (capt), N Ronan. Replacements: S Brophy, B Blaney, D Gannon, S Crawford, J Downey, D O'Shea.

Glasgow: G Metcalfe; D Millard, G Morrison, A Henderson, S Lamont; D Parks, G Beveridge; A Kelly, G Bulloch, E Murray; A Hall, N Ross; R Reid, J Petrie (capt), D Macfadyen. Replacements: S Lawson, M Proudfoot, J Beardshaw, R McKay, M McMillan, C Howarth, G Maclure.

Referee: N Williams (Wales).