Leinster v Cardiff: Teams

Cardiff Blues hooker Gareth Williams will become only the fifth player to play 100 games for the side if he emerges from the bench against Magners League champions Leinster at RDS on Saturday.

Since signing for the newly formed Blues in 2003, industrious hooker Williams' career at Arms Park includes 26 Heineken Cup matches.

He made his debut for the Blues in October of 2003 against Edinburgh and went on to make 14 appearances for the Blues in his first season.

The match against Leinster also sees the return of three Cardiff Blues players from injury with international centre Jamie Roberts, Xavier Rush and Richie Rees all named on the bench.

The 22-year-old Roberts was injured during Wales' final autumn Test against Australia following a sickening collision with Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock.

Roberts played on for fifteen minutes, not realising the extent of his injury, helping to create a try for wing Shane Williams as Wales triumphed 21-18.

Initial estimates by the Wales medical staff were that Roberts could return by mid-January, and he is now firmly on course to be part of coach Warren Gatland's plans for the Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield on February 8.

Rush meanwhile, sustained an injury to his knee during summer training which required an operation. Despite having some game time against Connacht in late September he has not played since that match with the knee injury having not fully recovered until now.

In the Leinster side, CJ van der Linde and club captain Leo Cullen both return from injury to take their places in the pack. Devin Toner partners Cullen at lock while Sean O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip come into the back-row.

In the backline, Brian O'Driscoll will partner Felipe Contepomi. Gordon D'Arcy moves to the left wing to make way for Shane Horgan to complete a line-up significantly different from the one that defeated Connacht 26-18 last Friday.

Meanwhile, Irish internationals Girvan Dempsey, Luke Fitzgerald and Malcolm O'Kelly are part of a strong set of replacements.

Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Gordon D'Arcy, 10 Isa Nacewa, 9 Chris Whitaker, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Leo Cullen (c), 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Brian Blaney, 1 Stan Wright.
Replacements: 16 Ollie le Roux, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Malcolm O'Kelly, 19 Stephen Keogh, 20 Chris Keane, 21 Luke Fitzgerald, 22 Girvan Dempsey.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Tom James, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 Tom Shanklin, 11 Gareth Thomas, 10 Nick Robinson, 9 Jason Spice, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Robin Sowden Taylor, 6 Maama Molitika, 5 Paul Tito, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Taufa'au Filise, 2 T Rhys Thomas, 1 John Yapp.
Replacements: 16 Gethin Jenkins, 17 Gareth Williams, 18 Scott Morgan, 19 Xavier Rush, 20 Richie Rees, 21 Ceri Sweeney, 22 Jamie Roberts.