Warner may step up

Celtic League News:Leinster will confirm today Felipe Contepomi will be hors de combat for the Heineken European Cup pool matches against Agen on December 9th and 16th. The damaged knee ligaments he suffered in Argentina's 27-26 defeat to France on Saturday may leave him struggling to recover in time for January's last two group games at home to Edinburgh and away to Gloucester.

The real problem now for coach Michael Cheika is place-kicking. Fullback Girvan Dempsey is the reserve kicker but he, too, is an injury concern after losing consciousness and bruising a cheekbone for Ireland against the Pacific Islanders.

None of Leinster's reserve outhalves are established kickers at this level. Christian Warner is favourite to wear the number 10 jersey in the coming weeks but Andy Dunne (Old Belvedere) and Jonathan Sexton (St Mary's) have been performing well at club level so may come into contention. Robert Kearney is another potential place-kicker. More will be revealed today when medical updates are released on Contepomi and Dempsey.

Brian O'Driscoll's early withdrawal from Sunday's international was a precautionary measure and he is expected to lead the province in Saturday's game at Ravenhill. Leinster will, however, be without Guy Easterby who remains two weeks off returning from a fractured jaw.

It is a full interprovincial weekend in the Magners Celtic League as Connacht travel to Thomond Park on Sunday. This is followed by two weeks of European action before two more rounds of cross-provincial games over Christmas, concluding with the last game at Lansdowne Road between Leinster and Ulster on New Year's Eve.