Solomons hoping for a lift from Leinster

An unchanged Ulster side will be looking to embattled Leinster to keep up their end of the bargain on Friday night by beating third-placed Gwent Dragons at Lansdowne Road. If that happens, then Ulster's fate is in their own hands as they bid to become the third Irish province to win the Celtic League.

The Dragons are level with Alan Solomons' side on 71 points, with Llanelli a point clear.

"I hope Leinster come out fighting, they certainly have the ammunition to fight the Dragons at Lansdowne Road, but we have to focus on our own match, it is massive," said Solomons.

Of course, if Leinster go belly-up and allow Gwent to earn a bonus point and the encounter at Stradey Park finishes a low-scoring draw then the title will go to Newport. However, in all likelihood, the destination of the Celtic League will be decided by whoever prevails in Llanelli.

"Llanelli will be at full strength and have the advantage of playing at home. I want our players to play with the same energy and commitment that they did last Friday, Llanelli are a very physical and powerful side," added Solomons.

The match will mark the end of Ulster hooker Matt Sexton's career, while Solomons is departing for Northampton Saints next season. This will undoubtedly galvanise Andy Ward's men but the Welsh are also saying farewell to some of their own. International outhalf Stephen Jones plays his final game for the Scarlets before heading to Montferrand and coach Mike Ruddock steps up to the Welsh international set-up so there will be no shortage of passion from either side.

Leinster have named a 23-man squad for Friday. Doubts remain over who will fill the tight-head spot, with Emmett Byrne and Peter Coyle yet to recover from knocks. Seán Brophy waits in the wings. Gavin Hickie has been pulled from Irish sevens duty in Croatia this weekend.

Notably, Gary Ella has opted to name just nine backs again, with Brian O'Driscoll and Girvan Dempsey coming back into contention after injury. The starting 15 will be announced tomorrow.

The Leinster match will be televised live on TG4 but the scores from Ulster's game will be screened as they happen.

It will be Eddie O'Sullivan's last chance to see several players who have just returned from injury (namely Byrne, Leo Cullen and Eric Miller) before naming his squad for South Africa. It will also give Declan Kidney, the incoming Gwent coach, a chance to see his new charges.

Connacht have made a number of changes from the side that lost to Munster last week, with Mark McHugh, who goes into hospital on Friday for an operation, ruled out of their game against the Celtic Warriors. Captain Tim Allnutt returns, while Conor McPhillips will attempt to end the season as the top try scorer in the league - he is currently on 11, one ahead of Cardiff's Jamie Robinson. Up front, Christian Short makes his first start of the season.

Munster will also name their side tomorrow for their final match, against The Borders in Netherdale. Donncha O'Callaghan is a major doubt with an ankle injury. Six other internationals are also ruled out but Paul O'Connell has resumed light training after a calf strain.

ULSTER (v Llanelli): B Cunningham; S Young, S Mallon, S Stewart, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; S Best, M Sexton, R Moore, M Mustchin, R Frost, A Ward (capt), N Best, R Wilson. Replacements: P Shields, R McCormack, T Barker, N McMillan, K Campbell, A Larkin, P Wallace.

CONNACHT (v Celtic Warriors): M Mostyn; T Robinson, D Yapp, T Allnutt, C McPhillips; E Elwood, C O'Loughlin; D McFarland, B Jackman, P Bracken, C Short, A Farley, P Neville, M Lacey, M Carroll.

LEINSTER SQUAD (v Gwent Dragons): R Corrigan (capt), S Byrne, E Byrne, M O'Kelly, L Cullen, E Miller, N Ronan, V Costello, S Brophy, P Coyle, G Hickie, B Gissing, A McCullen, D Dillon, B O'Meara, F Contepomi, B Burke, S Horgan, B O'Driscoll, J Norton, G Dempsey, B O'Riordan, J McWeeney.