Johnny Sexton will captain Leinster in their Champions Cup semi-final against the Scarlets on Saturday.
They are also boosted by the return of Robbie Henshaw, who plays his first match for Leinster since the Round Six game away to Montpellier in January.
Garry Ringrose is outside him in the number 13 shirt to renew the combination that worked so well against Exeter Chiefs in Rounds Three and Four. Sexton is joined in the half-backs by Jamison Gibson-Park.
In the pack, Cian Healy, Seán Cronin and Tadhg Furlong start in the front-row with Devin Toner and James Ryan behind them in the second-row.
It’s the same back-row that started against Saracens in the quarter-final with Scott Fardy, Dan Leavy and Jordi Murphy selected.
On the bench there is a welcome return from injury for Jack Conan while Jordan Larmour is also back in a European matchday squad having missed the quarter-final through injury.
Meanwhile, Scarlets will take on Leinster in the region’s first Champions Cup semi-final in 11 years.
Captain Ken Owens, who was on the replacements bench in that semi-final but didn’t make it on to the field, will lead his side onto the field on Saturday as he makes his 50th European appearance.
Owens, alongside Scarlets’ attack coach Stephen Jones, are the only personnel remaining from that side over a decade ago, but he will lead a star-studded side against the former champions in Dublin.
The Scarlets have experienced success in recent times at the Aviva Stadium, lifting the PRO12 trophy there at the end of last season, and will be looking to ensure a similar performance on Saturday afternoon.
With injuries to personnel in the back three, including Johnny McNicholl and Tom Prydie, Wayne Pivac has named international fly-half Rhys Patchell at full-back with Steff Evans and Leigh Halfpenny on the wings.
The international centre partnership of Hadleigh Parkes and Scott Williams line up behind half-backs Dan Jones and Gareth Davies.
Up front, the international front-row of Rob Evans, Owens and Samson Lee will lead from the front with Tadhg Beirne and David Bulbring in the second-row. Adding weight to the back of the pack are Aaron Shingler, James Davies and John Barclay.
Looking ahead to the clash, head coach Pivac said: “Leinster have shown right the way through this competition (that they’re the form team). Getting through the pool stage unbeaten shows the strength of their squad.
“It’s going to be one of those games, from first whistle to last, where we have to be at our best. It’s a great challenge and one where we aspire to be. We’re really looking forward to it.
“We can certainly take a lot of confidence out of the fact we went to Ireland twice last year and came away with two wins. Having said that that was twelve months ago. They’re a different side, we’re a different side. There’s some quality that was in the side last year that won’t be there this weekend. It’s going to be, I believe, a quality match. It’s going to be a massive occasion. It’ll be a difficult day, there’s no doubt about that.
“We’re in the same competitions so we face each other often. This is the first clash since that semi final last year with our top sides out. Both sides know there’s a massive prize at the end of the day. Everyone has a lot to play for.”
The teams:
Leinster: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Johnny Sexton (c), 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Jordi Murphy, 7 Dan Leavy, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 James Ryan, 4 Devin Toner, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Seán Cronin, 1 Cian Healy
Replacements: 16 James Tracy, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Andrew Porter, 19 Ross Molony, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Nick McCarthy, 22 Joey Carbery, 23 Jordan Larmour
Scarlets: 15 Rhys Patchell, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Steff Evans, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 John Barclay, 7 James Davies, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Ken Owens (c), 1 Rob Evans
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Dylan Evans, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Lewis Rawlins, 20 Steve Cummins, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Steff Hughes, 23 Will Boyde
Date: Saturday, April 21
Venue: Aviva Stadium
Kick-off: 15:30 BST (14:30 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Television match official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
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