Heaslip to captain much-changed Leinster
Jamie Heaslip is one of three survivors in the starting XV from last weekend's Heineken Cup quarter final and the Naas man will skipper the Leinster team to face Edinburgh in Friday night's RaboDirect PRO12 clash in the RDS (KO: 7.45pm).
In all there are eight Ireland internationals in the line-up with Heaslip joined in the back-row by Shane Jennings and Rhys Ruddock.
Damian Browne makes his 20th appearance of the season and partners Devin Toner at lock, with Sean Cronin joining Heinke van der Merwe and Nathan White in the front row after the trio featured in the 34-3 victory over the Cardiff Blues last weekend.
Isaac Boss partners Ian Madigan at half back. The Blackrock College out-half is in line to make his 45th Leinster appearance with Fergus McFadden lining up in the midfield alongside Gordon D'Arcy.
Fionn Carr, right winger David Kearney and Isa Nacewa complete the line-up.
Kevin McLaughlin, Eoin Reddan and Richardt Strauss are named amongst a replacements bench which sees a blend of youth and experience including 22-year-old Lansdowne prop Martin Moore who could make his debut for the province whom he previously captained at Under-20 level.
I Nacewa; D Kearney, F McFadden, G D’Arcy, F Carr; I Madigan, I Boss; H van der Merwe, S Cronin, N White; D Browne, D Toner; R Ruddock, S Jennings, J Heaslip (c).
Replacements: R Strauss, J McGrath, M Moore, K McLaughlin, L Auva’a, E Reddan, N Reid, B Macken
