Connacht v Leinster: PRO12 preview
By Robert Mulhern
Last Updated: 26/03/16 5:04pm
Connacht make two changes ahead of the top of the table clash while Luke Fitzgerald's return marks his 150th appearance for Leinster.
The eagerly awaited clash at the Sportsground - live on Sky Sports 1 HD at 5.15pm - is a sell-out and Pat Lam has made two changes from the starting XV that beat Edinburgh three weeks ago.
Academy centre Peter Robb is handed his first PRO12 start and partners Bundee Aki in midfield while Niyi Adeolokun returns to the right wing. AJ MacGinty and Kieran Marmion form the half-back pairing.
As a team who have history of winning at this stage of the season, it's going to take a massive collective effort from us to come out on top.
Pat Lam
The pack sees Ireland international Nathan White, who featured in all five Six Nations games, scrum down in the front-row while 21-year-old Sean O'Brien is again included in the back-row alongside Jake Heenan and captain John Muldoon. Robbie Henshaw is named in the replacements.
"We are expecting a pretty physical and fired up opposition," said head coach Pat Lam. "As a team who have history of winning at this stage of the season, it's going to take a massive collective effort from us to come out on top.
"There's certainly a huge buzz around this game tomorrow and we're all really looking forward to it. It doesn't get much better than playing in front of a sold-out Sportsground.
!Staying focused and chanelling that excitement and energy into our structures and systems will give us the best chance of getting the points on offer."
Leinster coach Leo Cullen has been able to call upon the fit again Luke Fitzgerald who returns for the first time since January, to make his 150th appearance for the province.
Fergus McFadden comes in on the right wing with captain Isa Nacewa making his 100th PRO12 appearance on Saturday, reverting to full-back. Ben Te'o and Garry Ringrose continue in midfield.
Luke McGrath again starts at scrum-half with Ian Madigan joining him in the half-backs.
Ireland internationals Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Jamie Heaslip and Eoin Reddan are all included on the bench.
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran,14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Peter Robb, 11 Matt Healy, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Kieran Marmion; 1 Denis Buckley, 2 Tom McCartney, 3 Nathan White, 4 Quinn Roux, 5 Aly Muldowney, 6 Sean O'Brien, 7 Jake Heenan, 8 John Muldoon (c).
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Finlay Bealham,19 Andrew Browne, 20 Eoin McKeon, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Shane O'Leary 23 Robbie Henshaw.
Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa (c), 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Ben Te'o, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Ian Madigan; 9 Luke McGrath, 1 Cian Healy, 2 Richardt Strauss, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Ross Molony, 5 Hayden Triggs, 6 Dominic Ryan, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Rhys Ruddock.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Mike Ross, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Jamie Heaslip, 21 Eoin Reddan, 22 Noel Reid, 23 Zane Kirchner.
Watch Connacht v Leinster live on Sky Sports 1 HD on Saturday from 5pm. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.