RaboDirect PRO12 match preview: Leinster v Glasgow

Duncan Weir impressed on Scotland duty in the Six Nations.

Gordon D'Arcy is back in the fold following the Six Nations.

Leinster welcome back their international contingent after the RBS Six Nations period as they look to topple league leaders Glasgow.

The visitors travel to the RDS Arena on Saturday top of the RaboDirect PRO12 table with a two-point advantage over the hosts.

Leinster's last defeat came at the hands of Ulster in December but the hosts maintain the only unbeaten home record in the league.

Glasgow enter the tie having dropped just one possible point in the last six rounds of fixtures while Leinster have dropped two in the same period.

Following the culmination of the Six Nations, Gordon D'Arcy returns to the Leinster midfield where he will partner Eoin O'Malley.

Isa Nacewa is back in the starting XV at full-back alongside Andrew Conway and David Kearney while Isaac Boss is alongside the league's top points scorer, Ian Madigan, at half-back.

Ireland duo Sean Cronin and Michael Bent return to the front row with Heinke van der Merwe while Shane Jennings, Kevin McLaughlin and Jordi Murphy complete a home-grown back row.

Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend names six changes to the team that defeated Cardiff Blues earlier in the month.

Tommy Seymour, Robert Harley, Tom Ryder, Ed Kalman, Dougie Hall and Moray Low all move into the starting line-up with Jon Welsh, Pat MacArthur, Gordon Reid and Ryan Wilson dropping to the bench.

Duncan Weir has been handed the number 10 jersey ahead of Ruaridh Jackson having featured in two of Scotland's Six Nations encounters.

Seymour replaces Byron McGuigan on the right wing while Canadian winger DTH van der Merwe starts on the opposite side.

Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Dave Kearney, 13 Eoin O'Malley, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Andrew Conway, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Issac Boss, 8 Jordi Murphy, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Quinn Roux 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 3 Michael Bent, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Aaron Dundon, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Dominic Ryan, 21 John Cooney, 22 Brendan Macken, 23 Fionn Carr.

Glasgow: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Alex Dunbar, 12 Peter Horne, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Niko Matawalu, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 John Barclay, 6 Robert Harley, 5 Alastair Kellock, 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Ed Kalman, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Moray Low.

Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 James Eddie, 20 Ryan Wilson, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Sean Lamont.

What they said...

Leinster back row Kevin McLaughlin

"We are right in the hunt just two points behind the leaders and we fancy our chances for a home quarter now," he told the club's official website.

"There is a great buzz around the camp and the guys coming back from Ireland are excited to get back in the blue.

"We are just two points behind Ulster and Glasgow and we are playing the table toppers, it doesn't get much bigger than this."

Glasgow coach Gregor Townsend

"We have picked a team which we believe is capable of winning the game but we have a number of players who are unlucky not to be involved," he told the club's official website.

"Those selected must grab the opportunity to play in such an important fixture with both hands.

"The game on Saturday represents a marker of where we are this season and we are fully aware of the significance of getting a result in Dublin. We will give everything we have to secure a win."

Click here for more betting