Eoin Reddan and Dave Kearney return for Leinster

Cian Healy absent from squad for Toulon tie as he awaits outcome of appeal

Eoin Reddan and Johnny Sexton start at halfback for Leinster against Toulon on Saturday. Photograph: Inpho
Eoin Reddan and Johnny Sexton start at halfback for Leinster against Toulon on Saturday. Photograph: Inpho

Michael Bent replaces Cian Healy in the Leinster squad for Saturday's clash with Toulon with the province awaiting the outcome of their appeal against the two-week suspension Healy was given following his sin-binning in last weekend's Champions Cup defeat.

Healy was cited for an alleged knee strike on Toulon hooker Guilhen Guirado, and while the EPCR judicial officer Roger Morris decided the charge of striking could not be proven, he determined the Ireland prop has committed an act of foul play.

Healy had been named in the original match squad by Leinster, however they later announced this was a mistake and 29-year-old Bent would be on the bench in his stead.

Jack McGrath starts at loosehead against the three-in-a-row European champions at the Aviva, and is the only new face in an otherwise unchanged pack from the 24-9 loss at the Stade Félix Mayol.

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In the backline Leo Cullen brings Eoin Reddan in at scrumhalf to replace the injured Isaac Boss, while Dave Kearney replaces Fergus McFadden in the back three.

20-year-old scrumhalf Nick McCarthy could make his senior Leinster debut from the bench after he was registered for the Champions Cup this week in the absence of the injured Luke McGrath.

Leinster: Rob Kearney, Dave Kearney, Ben Te'o, Luke Fitzgerald, Isa Nacewa, Johnny Sexton, Eoin Reddan, Jack McGrath, Richardt Strauss, Mike Ross, Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock, Josh van der Flier, Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Michael Bent, Marty Moore, Tom Denton, Jordi Murphy, Nick McCarthy, Ian Madigan, Zane Kirchner

RC Toulon: Delon Armitage; Bryan Habana, Mathieu Bastareaud, Ma'a Nonu, Drew Mitchell; Matt Giteau (c), Eric Escande; Florian Fresia, Guilhem Guirado, Matt Stevens, Jocelino Suta, Romain Taofifenua, Juan Smith, Steffon Armitage, Duane Vermeulen

Replacements: Anthony Etrillard, Xavier Chiocci, Levan Chilachava, Mamuka Gorgodze, Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Tom Taylor, Sebastien Tillous-Borde, Konstantine Mikautadze