RUGBY: After back-to-back defeats to start their Celtic League campaign, Leinster will be hopeful they can show more of a cutting edge when reverting to Donnybrook for a change of competition this evening.
Thus far, winning possession has been less of a problem than using it, and the demanding Donnybrook faithful - having become accustomed to entertaining back play over the last few years - will be hoping for an improvement on the showing of a fortnight ago against Munster.
Not that Gary Ella and his management team are panicking just yet, for their reconstructed team, without its World Cup squad members, was always going to require time to gel.
"We are disappointed that we haven't got two wins, that is what we were targeting, but the effort from the players has been great," Ella maintained. "We have just not been able to finish off opponents - and that will come. The side is starting to work together really well and we are certainly not down."
Admittedly, tonight's line-up has a reconstructed look to it again, with Leo Cullen being rested after a mentally trying couple of weeks, while David Quinlan - who's been "carrying a bit of an injury" - is demoted to the bench. However, it provides a welcome opportunity for the pacy and highly talented Brian O'Riordan at scrumhalf after a largely wasted year last season.
Aidan McCullen becomes Leinster's third captain in three outings; due recognition for his importance to the home team and Ella is confident that the versatile back row player will lead from the front.
Ella is also hopeful that the return of Gavin Hickie and Emmet Byrne to the front row will improve the Leinster scrum, and with the lineout working well, there should be enough ball-carrying ability up front in McCullen, Des Dillon and Aidan Kearney to provide plenty of ball for the backs.
Lyn Jones, the coach of Neath last season who has taken over the reins with the newly formed Ospreys, has delayed naming his starting line-up until today, while claiming that he has to evaluate injuries to Lyndon Bateman Steve Tandy, Andy Williams, Andrew Millward and the evergreen Scott Gibbs, whose shoulder problems is not expected to rule him out.
They've had a curious couple of results, gathering a bonus point in piling on 41 points against Ulster before going down surprisingly 29-19 to the Gwent Dragons last week. Jones attributed the 71-point feast with Ulster to the like-minded approach of two teams who "went out with a positive attitude" whereas against the Dragons "the kick and kill game won out".
For what will be Jones' first visit to Donnybrook and first clash with Leinster, he acknowledged that Leinster may be missing most of their big names but he maintained: "they're still one of the top sides in Europe and we're really looking forward to it."
The Ospreys will likely try to pursue a wide, attack-minded game but Leinster should have enough hard yards in them up front to lay the foundations for a first competitive win under Ella.
LEINSTER: G D'Arcy; J McWeeney, K Lewis, C Warner, B Burke; M Leek, B O'Riordan; J Lyne, G Hickie, E Byrne, A Kearney, B Gissing, A McCullen (capt), S Jennings, D Dillon. Replacements: P Coyle, D Blaney, N Breslin, N Ronan, B O'Meara, D Quinlan, G Brown.
NEATH/SWANSEA OSPREYS: A Durston; G Morris, E Sevalai'I, D Tiueti, S Gibbs; J Storey, G Henson; S Connor, R Richards, A Williams, P James, A Millward, C Griffiths, C Wells, A Newman, L Bateman, L Tait, J Thomas, R Pugh, S Tandy, N Bonner-Evans, J Bater.
Referee: David Changleng (S)
Forecast: Leinster to win.
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