Leinster head Pool 2 after a brilliant start to this season’s campaign. Brian O’Driscoll and co have collected bonus-point victories over Edinburgh and London Wasps with impressive performances. 

The Irish province now face basement club Castres at the Royal Dublin Showground defending an unbeaten home record of nine matches. 

Castres have only won one out of their last 11 matches on their travels so expect Leinster to put one foot towards qualification.

Ireland internationals Luke Fitzgerald, Jamie Heaslip, Shane Jennings and Rob Kearney are included in Leinster’s 24-man panel for the visit of the French side.

The squad also features fellow Ireland stars Girvan Dempsey, Trevor Hogan, Shane Horgan, Bernard Jackman, Brian O’Driscoll and Leinster’s most capped player Malcolm O’Kelly, while New Zealander David Holwell is also included in the panel after his recent return to the province.

Almost 15,500 tickets have now been sold for Saturday’s game and tickets are still available on www.leinsterrugby.ie as well as from all Ticketmaster outlets. Limited tickets are also on sale in Donnybrook from Spar and the Leinster Rugby Store. Supporters are advised to arrive early and use Public Transport.

Leinster squad to face Castres Olympique

Forwards (14): Cian Healy, Brian Blaney, Bernard Jackman, CJ van der Linde, Stan Wright, Trevor Hogan, Devin Toner, Malcolm O’Kelly, Rocky Elsom, Cameron Jowitt, Shane Jennings, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip, Stephen Keogh

Backs (10): Chris Keane, Chris Whitaker, David Holwell, Jonathan Sexton, Simon Keogh, Luke Fitzgerald, Brian O’Driscoll, Shane Horgan, Girvan Dempsey, Rob Kearney