THE PRO14 BOOTROOM
LEINSTER v GLASGOW
RDS Arena, 3pm.
TEAM NEWS: Devin Toner and Robbie Henshaw (right) return to Leinster’s starting line-up after three months out of action. Sean O’Brien captains the side from the openside flank and is joined by young backrowers Josh Murphy and Caelan Doris. Scotland midfielder Huw Jones has recovered from a knee injury and is named on the Glasgow bench. LAST MEETING: JAN 2018 - Leinster 55 Glasgow 19.
VERDICT: Leinster. WHY: The hosts are understrength, but home advantage and the return of Henshaw and Toner should secure a hard-fought win.
LEINSTER: R Kearney; J Larmour, J Tomane, R Henshaw, D Kearney; R Byrne, J Gibson-Park; E Byrne, J Tracy, M Bent; D Toner, J Dunne; J Murphy, S O’Brien (capt), C Doris. Reps: S Cronin, C Healy, T Furlong, W Connors, M Deegan, H O’Sullivan, C Frawley, A Byrne.
GLASGOW: S Hogg; T Seymour, K Steyn, S Johnson, N Matawalu; A Hastings, A Price; J Bhatti, F Brown, Z Fagerson; S Cummings, J Gray; R Harley C Fusaro (capt), M Fagerson. Reps: G Stewart, A Allan, D Rae, B Flockhart, A Ashe, G Horne, P Horne, H Jones. Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy). TV: LIVE EirSport 1, 2.15pm, Highlights TG4 11.15.
KEY STAT Will Connors will be the 56th player used by Leo Cullen this season if the flanker makes an appearance from the bench.
CONNACHT v CARDIFF
The Sportsground at 3pm
TEAM NEWS: Head coach Andy Friend makes two changes to the side which beat Zebre 6-5 in Parma last Saturday, with Bundee Aki and Paul Boyle replacing Peter Robb and Eoin McKeon in the starting line-up. The hosts are without international forwards Quinn Roux and Finlay Bealham. LAST MEETING: JAN 2019 - Cardiff 8 Connacht 7.
VERDICT: Connacht. WHY: Both sides are renowned for their free-wheeling backlines, but Connacht have the forward power to see this one home and seal their spot in the play-offs in front of a sold-out Sportsground.
CONNACHT: T O’Halloran; D Leader, T Farrell, B Aki, M Healy; J Carty, C Blade; D Buckley, D Heffernan, D Robertson-McCoy; U Dillane, G Thornbury; P Boyle, C Fainga’a, J Butler (capt). Reps: S Delahunt, M Burke, C Carey, J Cannon, R Copeland, K Marmion, T Daly, C Kelleher. CARDIFF: M Morgan; O Lane, R Lee-Lo, W Halaholo, J Harries; G Anscombe (capt), T Williams; R GIll, E Lewis, D Lewis; G Earle, R Thornton; J Turnbull, O Robinson, S Davies. Reps: L Belcher, R Carre, D Arhip, S Lewis-Hughes, J Botham, L Williams, J Evans, G Smith. Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland) TV: LIVE on TG4, 2.30pm.
KEY STAT Connacht out-half Jack Carty is currently the league’s top points scorer with 135.