Johnny Sexton returns for Leinster in Saturday evening's crunch Pro 12 clash with Munster at the Aviva Stadium.

In total Leo Cullen has made nine changes from the side which were beaten by league leaders Connacht in Galway last weekend.

And with Connacht facing a tricky fixture away at Ulster on Friday night, Leinster’s returning big guns could help propel them back to the top of the table.

Eoin Reddan will join Sexton at halfback, while Dave Kearney comes onto the wing and Zane Kirchener returns at fullback.

In the pack Jack McGrath and Sean Cronin come in to join Tadhg Furlong, while Devin Toner comes into the secondrow and Jordi Murphy and Jamie Heaslip return at seven and eight.

Meanwhile CJ Stander, fresh from an impressive debut Six Nations campaign with Ireland, returns to captain Munster from number the base of the pack.

James Cronin is the other change Anthony Foley has made to his pack, and he lines up in the frontrow with Stephen Archer and Niall Scannell.

The pivotal Conor Murray is named in the starting XV at scrumhalf, while Francis Saili and Andrew Conway will also start in Dublin.

Conway lines up alongside Simon Zebo and Keith Earls in a potent Munster back three.

Leinster: Zane Kirchner, Isa Nacewa, Garry Ringrose, Ben Te'o, Dave Kearney, Johnny Sexton, Eoin Reddan, Jack McGrath, Sean Cronin, Tadhg Furlong, Devin Toner, Hayden Triggs, Rhys Ruddock, Jordi Murphy, Jamie Heaslip. Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Cian Healy, Mike Ross, Ross Molony, Josh van der Flier, Luke McGrath, Ian Madigan, Fergus McFadden

Munster: Simon Zebo, Andrew Conway, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls, Johnny Holland, Conor Murray; James Cronin, Niall Scannell, Stephen Archer, Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland; Dave O'Callaghan, Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander. Replacements: Mike Sherry, Dave Kilcoyne, John Ryan, Robin Copeland, Jack O'Donoghue, Tomás O'Leary, Ian Keatley, Darren Sweetnam.