Leinster boosted by returns for trip to Cardiff

Leinster will have Marty Moore, Rob Kearney, Eoin Reddan and Dominic Ryan available for Saturday's Guinness Pro12 match against the Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park.

Moore has pretty much been back in full-time training for the past two weeks and the Leinster management considered putting him in the matchday squad for the Ulster game last Saturday but instead will include him in the 23 against the Blues.

The tighthead prop has been out of commission since early October – he suffered the damage in a league game against Zebre – following shoulder surgery. His return will alleviate the heavy burden placed on Ireland international Mike Ross and Tadhg Furlong.

Ryan has followed the return to play protocols in the wake of a head injury while the availability of Kearney and Reddan gives coach Matt O’Connor further options in the backline.

Leinster are hoping that loosehead prop Jack McGrath will be available for the Cardiff match despite his citing for an alleged stamping incident in the victory over Ulster at the RDS.

The loosehead had been on the receiving end of a similar incident involving Ulster number eight Roger Wilson but no sanction was made against the latter.