Glasgow v Leinster
(kick-off 5.15pm, Scotstoun Stadium. Sky Sports)
While Isaac Boss is in line to make history as the first player to represent two Irish provinces (Ulster and Leinster) 100 times, when he lines out against Glasgow Warriors, truth is he'd take the win first.
This week it's Jimmy Gopperth outside the scrumhalf in what will be another season of revolving doors at pivot. It's instructional that Leinster coach Matt O'Connor has again opted for Gopperth over Ian Madigan against Gregor Townsend's side, one of the strongest in the league.
When Johnny Sexton arrives at the beginning of next season, the rotation will hot up even more. Madigan travels to Glasgow, chomping at the bit from the bench.
In the second row Ben Marshall starts his first Pro12 match since February of last year after an injury hit season, the more seasoned international Mike McCarthy beside him.
Sean Cronin returns after surgery earlier in the summer, and with internationals Cian Healy and Mike Ross either side, Leinster travel with a strong front row. That strength continues to the backrow where number 8 and captain Sean O'Brien combines with Dominic Ryan and Shane Jennings.
The backline has zip and with winger Darragh Fanning and inside centre Noel Reid improving every season. Brendan Macken gets first crack at 13, his destiny no doubt to be compared to Brian O'Driscoll.
Leinster won 34-12 in May’s showpiece final but Townsend knows the game will probably be tighter than that.
“It was a great achievement for the club to reach the Pro12 final in May, but ultimately we were disappointed to lose, although it was a very close game up until the final quarter,” said Townsend of last season’s final.
But when Leinster travelled to Glasgow in the September league game, the home side narrowly won it 12-6.
Glasgow: P Murchie; T Seymour, M Bennett, A Dunbar, L Jones, P Horne, H Pyrgos; A Allen, F Brown, E Murray, L Nakawara, J Gray, R Harley, C Fusaro, J Strauss ©. Replacements - P MacArthur, G Reid, R de Klerk, T Swinson, A Ashe, N Matawalu, S Hogg, S Lamont.
Leinster: Z Kirchner; F McFadden, B Macken, N Reid, D fanning; J Gopperth, I Boss; C Healy, S Cronin, M Ross, B Marshall, M McCarthy, D Ryan, S Jennings, S O’Brien ©. Replacements - B Byrne, J McGrath, T Furlong, T Denton, K McLaughlin, L McGrath, I Madigan, M McGrath
