Leinster’s 100pc record has rarely looked vulnerable this season, yet this visit of Cardiff looks a tricky task.

With 20 internationals away and two of their three overseas international signings out injured, they take to the RDS with a highly inexperienced team.

There’s still plenty of quality on display with six senior internationals in the starting XV and a further one on the bench in the form of the returning Will Connors, but it’s still an untested combination of players who have not seen a lot of senior action.

The beauty of Leo Cullen’s Leinster is that ability to pitch up and perform regardless, but there have been moments where that’s been a bridge too far in recent seasons when teams like Connacht and Ospreys were able to leave Ballsbridge with the spoils.

A lot falls on the shoulders of the senior men like Dave Kearney, Luke McGrath, Michael Ala’alatoa, Ross Molony and Rhys Ruddock who must lead by example, while Harry Byrne needs a big game to remind everyone of what he can do.

The younger Byrne brother has fallen out of the international picture, but he remains a high-quality operator who just needs a run of games to get back to his best.

This evening would be a good place to start against a Cardiff team who need a win to kick-start their run at the play-offs and next year’s Champions Cup.

They’ve picked a relatively experienced side, but they have the poorest lineout and visit the opposition’s ’22 the least of any team in the URC, elements that don’t help when you’re looking for a big win away.

With Michael Milne growing in stature at loosehead, Brian Deeny and Molony more than capable in the second-row and Ruddock joined by Scott Penny and Max Deegan in the back-row, they’ve a pack capable of mixing it.

Behind the scrum, Ben Brownlee gets his first start at No 12 and a big chance to impress; while Chris Cosgrave is a full-back with a big reputation.

Verdict: Leinster

Leinster – C Cosgrave; M O’Reilly, L Turner, B Brownlee, D Kearney; H Byrne, L McGrath; M Milne, J McKee, M Ala’alatoa; R Molony, B Deeny; R Ruddock (capt), S Penny, M Deegan. Reps: T McElroy, M Hanan, T Clarkson, J Culhane, W Connors, N McCarthy, C Tector, A King.

Cardiff – R Priestland; O Lane, R Lee-Lo, B Thomas, J Harries; J Evans, L Williams; B Thyer, K Myhill, K Assiratti; L Timani, S Davies; J Turnbull (capt), J Botham, J Ratti. Reps: K Dacey, C Domachowski, W Davies-King, R Thornton, S Lewis-Hughes, E Bevan, A Summerhill, M Morgan.

Referee – J Peyper (SARU)

Leinster v Cardiff,
Live, RTÉ2/Premier Sports, 5.30