Johnny Sexton will start his first game in more than two months when Leinster take on Bath at the Rec in their final Rugby Champions Cup pool game on Saturday morning.
The Dubliner made his return from injury as a second-half substitute in Sunday’s record 89-7 win over Montpellier at the RDS.
36-year-old Sexton hasn’t started a game since limping off late in Ireland’s November international win over the All Blacks at the Aviva Stadium.
He takes the place of Ross Byrne, who was this week left out of Andy Farrell’s initial Six Nations squad.
Sexton is joined in the half-backs by Luke McGrath, who replaces Jamison Gibson-Park, as the Blues look to secure a home last 16 game.
Robbie Henshaw also returns to the side in place of Ciaran Frawley, while Michael Ala’alatoa steps in for the injured Tadhg Furlong in the only change in the pack.
There’s also a potential European debut for academy product Vakh Abeladze as the tight-head prop steps up to the bench in Furlong’s absence.
Leinster currently sit fourth in Pool A and in line for a home game in the round of 16, but only a superior points difference of 23 separates them from Exeter Chiefs in fifth.
Leinster Rugby team to face Bath (Leinster caps in brackets) :
15. Hugo Keenan (37)
14. Jordan Larmour (68)
13. Garry Ringrose (93)
12. Robbie Henshaw (59)
11. Jimmy O’Brien (40)
10. Johnny Sexton CAPTAIN (177)
9. Luke McGrath (159)
1. Andrew Porter (84)
2. Rónan Kelleher (32)
3. Michael Ala’alatoa (8)
4. Ross Molony (124)
5. Josh Murphy (51)
6. Caelan Doris (46)
7. Josh van der Flier (105)
8. Jack Conan (109)
Replacements:
16. Dan Sheehan (20)
17. Cian Healy (240)
18. Vakh Abdaladze (15)
19. Ryan Baird (35)
20. Max Deegan (73)
21. Jamison Gibson-Park (108)
22. Ross Byrne (113)
23. Ciarán Frawley (44)
