Celtic League: Connacht To Kickstart Home Record

Connacht could earn valuable points in the race for Heineken Cup qualification if they can overturn Leinster on Sunday (2.30pm) – for the second time in twelve months at the Sportsground.

Celtic League: Week 18: Sunday, March 20
Connacht v Leinster, The Sportsground, 2.30pm

Four losses in their last four league outings at home have proved costly for Connacht – who moved up to seventh with their 16-12 defeat of Edinburgh last time out.

The westerners take on a Leinster side low on confidence with January’s record 55-3 victory over the Dragons their sole league success of 2005 so far.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley is yet to announce his squad, as they continue their preparations from next month’s European Challenge Cup semi-final legs with Sale.

Tries from Niall Ronan and Felipe Contepomi – who missed Leinster’s 16-12 loss to leaders the Ospreys two weeks ago, with a bruised chest – helped Declan Kidney’s side edge past Connacht 18-9 at Donnybrook in November.

Ronan is currently in Hong Kong with the Ireland Sevens squad and the Lansdowne flanker is one of 14 players unavailable to coach Kidney, owing to injury and Ireland duty.

A number of AIB League talents – including Trinity’s Jamie Heaslip, UCD fly-half Eoghan Hickey and Lansdowne duo Fiachra Baynes and Ken Kennedy have been named in an initial 28-man Leinster squad.

Shane Jennings misses out with a foot injury but Leinster do welcome back Leo Cullen, Gary Brown and Contepomi from spells on the sideline.

Head-to-head since 2002: Connacht 2, Leinster 3
League form: Connacht LLWLW, Leinster LLWLL
Top scorers: Connacht: Paul Warwick 108 points / Matt Mostyn, Matt Lacey, Conor McLoughlin 3 each; Leinster: David Holwell 101 / Denis Hickie 5

CONNACHT: tbc

LEINSTER Squad:

Forwards from (13): John Lyne, Ricky Nebbett, David Blaney, Gavin Hickie, Ben Gissing, Ciaran Potts, Aidan McCullen, Des Dillon, Victor Costello, Keith Gleeson, Jamie Heaslip, Niall Treston, Leo Cullen

Backs from (15): Brian O’Riordan, Brian O’Meara, David Holwell, David McAllister, Christian Warner, Kieran Lewis, John McWeeney, Gary Brown, David Quinlan, John Hearty, Felipe Contepomi, Eoghan Hickey, Fiachra Baynes, Conor Kilroy, Ken Kennedy

Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales)