Harry Byrne comes in from the cold as Leinster's no 10 in Swansea this evening - and is handed a chance to present Andy Farrell with a timely reminder of what he can do.
Byrne starts for the first time this season and after making four substitute appearances for the sum total of 60 minutes playing time. Injury problems have badly disrupted what appeared to be a comfortable rise up the Leinster and Ireland pecking order.
Even last season, the 23-year-old only managed four starts at out-half as Leinster used him off the bench and at centre as well, so this is a real opportunity for him to stake his claim for the Blues and to nudge Farrell ahead of his upcoming Six Nations squad selection.
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In that regard, his brother Ross has returned to favour with Ireland and, with Johnny Sexton sidelined for the coming weeks, the older Byrne sibling is named on the bench for the clash with Ospreys as Leo Cullen selects a squad with the upcoming back to back Champions Cup games in mind.
It is still a starting line-up with 10 Test players included, including Jordan Larmour - the player of the match in last Sunday's seven-try victory over Connacht - while Rhys Ruddock skippers the side in the absence of Sexton, Garry Ringrose and James Ryan.
For in-form Larmour, this is an opportunity to stake his Champions Cup claim.
The Blues have a novel second row partnership with the experienced Ross Molony paired with rookie Brian Deeny.
Ruddock forms a back row with prolific try scorer Scott Penny and Jack Conan, who returns with a point to prove at no 8.
Cullen can turn to some serious experience on the bench. Apart from Byrne and Ryan, he has world player of the year Josh van der Flier to call upon.
Ospreys are in 12th place but have enjoyed an upsurge of late with victories in the Welsh derbies.
“It will be a tough contest for us because there’s a lot of those boys that are knocking on the door (for Welsh team selection)," said Leinster assistant coach Robin McBryde.
"With the Six Nations just around the corner, they’re going to be tough.”
Leinster: 15. Hugo Keenan, 14. Jordan Larmour ,13. Jamie Osborne, 12. Charlie Ngatai, 11. Jimmy O’Brien, 10. Harry Byrne, 9. Cormac Foley; 1. Cian Healy, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Michael Ala’alatoa, 4. Ross Molony, 5. Brian Deeny, 6. Rhys Ruddock, 7. Scott Penny, 8. Jack Conan.
Replacements 16. John McKee , 17. Michael Milne , 18. Vakhtang Abdaladze , 19. James Ryan , 20. Josh van der Flier , 21. Nick McCarthy 22. Ross Byrne , 23. Rob Russell.
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