Leinster v Scarlets: Teams

Heineken Cup finalists Leinster will field a strong side for Friday's Magners League clash with the struggling Scarlets at the RDS.

Felipe Contepomi and Rocky Elsom are the only absentees from the side that

produced a stunning victory over rivals Munster in Europe.

Fly-half Contepomi has been ruled out of the final against Leicester, as well as Argentina's summer series against England.

In his place at number 10 comes Jonathan Sexton, who came off the bench to star in the 25-6 semi-final triumph at Croke Park.

Big guns

Sean O'Brien starts in place of Australian Elsom in a pack that includes Ireland internationals Bernard Jackman, Leo Cullen, Malcolm O'Kelly, Shane Jennings and Jamie Heaslip.

The Leinstermen have not lost on home soil since September 28 when they suffered an 18-0 defeat at the hands of Munster.

The Scarlets head on their travels for the first of three league games in the space of eight days that will end their campaign.

Hooker Matthew Rees and fly-half Stephen Jones, who takes over the captaincy from the sidelined Simon Easterby, have both been named in the starting XV by head coach Nigel Davies.

Fit-again centre Gavin Evans is also back while Rob Higgitt is named amongst the list of replacements.

Huge challenge

"We can expect a huge challenge at the RDS. Leinster had a fabulous victory last weekend in the Heineken Cup semi-final against Munster," Davies said.

"It was a smashing game of rugby and they were very impressive indeed. The have a strong forward platform this season which, perhaps, they've struggled with in years gone by and they can front up in that area.

"They've always had the quality backs who can damage teams. They have a lot of experience and they've benefited from a consistency of selection this season."

The Scarlets will be bidding to become the first Welsh team to beat Leinster this season. However, they have won just once on the road in league action, recording a 17-14 result at Connacht back in October.

Leinster: 15 Isa Nacewa, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Gordon D'Arcy, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Chris Whitaker, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Sean O'Brien, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 3 Stan Wright, 2 Bernard Jackman, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 John Fogarty, 17 Ronan McCormack, 18 Devin Toner, 19 Stephen Keogh, 20 Simon Keogh, 21 Fergus McFadden, 22 Girvan Dempsey.

Scarlets: 15 Daniel Evans, 14 Mark Jones, 13 Gavin Evans, 12 Jon Davies, 11 Lee Williams, 10 Stephen Jones (c), 9 Martin Roberts, 8 David Lyons, 7 Johnathan Edwards, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Vernon Cooper, 3 Phil John, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Iestyn Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Deacon Manu, 17 Ken Owens, 18 Lou Reed, 19 Rob McCusker, 20 Gavin Cattle, 21 Rhys Priestland, 22 Rob Higgitt.