Newport will raise the stakes in Donnybrook

On paper this is pitched as one of the best matches of the weekend in the Heineken European Cup, featuring as it does one of only two meetings between unbeaten sides. On grass it's liable to turn out that way.

Leinster's unbeaten run of 15 games at home has given the Donnybrook Experience added momentum, but tonight Newport are expected to swell a capacity crowd with a travelling support of 1,500, so Leinster's supporters will need to liven up.

The Newport team are also likely to present a stiffer challenge than anything else Leinster have faced in their nine-game unbeaten start to the season so far, including an off-colour Toulouse and Newcastle.

"The other two teams weren't on top of their form, it's as simple as that, whereas Newport are on top of their form," says coach Matt Williams. "And the other factor is they're well coached.

"They're a great side. A great side is one which knows what cards it has in its hands and plays them smart. They play their cards highly intelligently. They mightn't all be aces, but they don't have to be. They have great continuity, great tactical kicking and positional play, and they convert pressure and position into points, where other teams don't."

Leinster, if the truth be told, leave a palpable impression that they've left plenty in the tank in pulling away with slightly flattering wins so far, as Williams and the players have readily admitted. That Keith Gleeson has been given more chances to impress defensively than offensively is an indicator of that.

The bedrock has been their defence, and Newport are likely to ask more searching questions of that given their superb playmaker Shane Howarth attacks the gain line much flatter than Jonny Wilkinson did three weeks ago.

Newport brought out Munster's best game last season and pushed them again in the Celtic League when Ian McIntosh's team looked a really well-drilled side with impressive continuity from the kick-off.

Mischievously, their coach, Ian McIntosh, has wondered aloud: "We've come up against Munster, who beat us, but do we know which is the best side, Munster or Leinster? We have seen some fine results from Leinster and we know exactly what we have to do to win. The Irish sides have played particularly well this season, but within our squad we have renewed belief."

Williams is concerned about this one. "We've won all our games this season quite easily in the end. There's been tight moments, but then we've dominated the last 10 minutes and put the scores on the board. I think this is going to be 28-27. It's that sort of game, a point or two in it."

A nagging concern is that Brian O'Driscoll will also be ruled out come the warm-up because of his knee and finger injuries. Leinster are well capable of winning without him, and if they do their stuff they will, but it will probably require their best of the season so far.

LEINSTER: G Dempsey; D Hickie, B O'Driscoll, S Horgan, G D'Arcy; N Spooner, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, E Byrne, L Cullen, M O'Kelly, E Miller, V Costello, K Gleeson. Replacements: P Coyle, G Hickie, B Casey, T Brennan, B Willis, A Dunne, A Magro.

NEWPORT: M Pini; M Mostyn, A Marinos, J Pritchard, M Watkins; S Howarth, O Tonu'u; R Snow, J Richards, C Anthony, S Raiwalui (capt), M Voyle, P Buxton, A Powell, J Powell. Replacements: A Garvey, C Jones, P Young, J Foster, N Brew, J Strange, D Burn.

Referee: S Dickson (Scotland).

Previous meetings: None.

Formguide: Leinster - 40-10 v Toulouse (h); 28-9 v Newcastle (h). Newport - 34-21 v Newcastle (a); 21-20 v Toulouse (h).

Leading try scorers: Leinster - Brian O'Driscoll 3. Newport - Matt Mostyn 2.

Leading points scorers: Leinster - Nathan Spooner 28. Newport - Shane Howarth 35.

Odds (Paddy Power): 2/9 Leinster, 18/1 Draw, 3/1 Newport. Handicap odds (= Newport + pts) 10/11 Leinster, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Newport.