Cian Healy starts from the bench for Leinster

Cian Healy looks set to make his first appearance of the year in the blue of Leinster on Friday night against Zebre at the RDS.

The prop was called on from the bench for Ireland after 62 minutes against France at the weekend, his first appearance since September after a long injury lay-off.

If he features this will be Healy’s first appearance for the province since the Guinness PRO12 game against the Scarlets over five months ago.

Leinster head coach Matt O'Connor has had to rule out Ton Denton, Noel Reid and Richardt Strauss for the encounter as they continue through the return to play protocols. There are seven changes in personnel, three in the forwards and four in the backs, from the team who lost to Newport Gwent Dragons last Sunday.

Zane Kirchner returns from injury and starts at full back with Fergus McFadden on the right wing and Luke Fitzgerald starting this weekend on the left wing. Gordon D'Arcy comes in at inside centre with Ben Te'o outside him at 13.

In the half backs there is a return from a knee injury for Eoin Reddan who hasn't played since the 20-20 draw against Wasps in the Champions Cup. While beside him Jimmy Gopperth wins his 50th cap for Leinster.

In the front row Michael Bent again starts at loosehead with Marty Moore coming in at tighthead and Aaron Dundon starting at hooker. In the second row Mike McCarthy and Kane Douglas are the starting pair, while there is no change to the back row from last weekend with Dominic Ryan, captain Shane Jennings and number eight Jack Conan all starting once again.

Meanwhile Ulster welcome back Iain Henderson as one of two changes for their trip to Murrayfield to face Edinburgh also on Friday night.

Henderson, who signed a new three-year contract with Ulster Rugby this week, starts in the second row and is one of two changes to the side that beat Treviso 43-3 at Kingspan Stadium last weekend.

The other sees Stuart McCloskey return to the starting fifteen, the 22 year-old scored a try on his return from injury last weekend and is named at inside-centre for the game.

The rest of the team is unchanged as Robbie Diack misses the match having picked up a back injury in training.

LEINSTER: Zane Kirchner; Fergus McFadden, Ben Te'o, Gordon D'Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald; Jimmy Gopperth, Eoin Reddan; Michael Bent, Aaron Dundon, Marty Moore; Mike McCarthy, Kane Douglas; Dominic Ryan, Shane Jennings, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Cian Healy, Tadhg Furlong, Ben Marshall, Dan Leavy, Isaac Boss, Cathal Marsh, Dave Kearney.

ULSTER: L Ludik; C Gilroy, D Cave, S McCloskey, M Allen, I Humphreys, R Pienaar; C Black, R Herring, W Herbst, I Henderson, F Van der Merwe, R Wilson (Captain), M McComish, N Williams.

Replacements: J Andrew, A Warwick, B Ross, L Stevenson, C Ross, P Marshall, L Marshall, P Nelson.