Leinster v Saints: Teams

Leinster have been buoyed by news that talismanic centre Brian O'Driscoll has been passed fit to tackle Northampton in the Heineken Cup final.

The Ireland skipper had been a doubt for the mouth-watering finale at the Millennium Stadium, after suffering a knock in the Magners League play-off semi-final victory over Ulster.

However O'Driscoll has been named in the Leinster midfield - with the British and Irish Lion teaming up with Gordon D'Arcy.

There are no surprises in the Leinster line-up, with coach Joe Schmidt naming an experienced XV - including the likes of Leo Cullen, Nathan Hines, Jonathan Sexton, Jamie Heaslip and Mike Ross.

Northampton have also named the expected side for the final - with Chris Ashton having been cleared to play following his clash with Manu Tuilagi in the Premiership semi-final.

Ashton needed stitches above his left eye after he was punched by the Leicester centre, but he is fit to start on the wing.

Respect

The only absentee for Saints will be Tom Wood, who has failed to recover from injury - with Calum Clark retaining his place in the back-row.

And Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder is determined to lead his side to glory in Cardiff.

"We certainly have plenty of respect for their achievements and for the players and coaches. But we are not going to Cardiff just to make up the numbers," he said.

"For us, tomorrow's game is the last of a long season and represents the last opportunity for us to bring home some silverware.

"This is a massive motivation. Not a lot of players get the chance to play in a Heineken Cup final, and everyone in the matchday 23 is determined to get a positive result tomorrow."

Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Stan Wright, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Shane Jennings, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Fergus McFadden.

Northampton: 15 Ben Foden, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Jon Clarke, 12 James Downey, 11 Paul Diggin, 10 Stephen Myler, 9 Lee Dickson, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Phil Dowson, 6 Calum Clark, 5 Christian Day, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt), 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Tom Mercey, 19 Mark Sorenson, 20 Mark Easter, 21 Stuart Commins, 22 Shane Geraghty, 23 Joe Ansbro.