Tommy O'Brien set for Champions Cup final as experienced trio to miss out

Tommy O'Brien has been managing a hamstring problem since the semi-final win over Toulon and was withdrawn for the Ospreys match. He has traveled with the squad to Bilbao and is expected to be named in the team on Friday. Leo Cullen is likely to keep the midfield partnership of Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose, with Jamie Osborne expected to start on the bench. Rieko Ioane is set for the left wing, leaving no place for James Lowe, Jordan Larmour, and Jimmy O'Brien. Harry Byrne is expected to start at out-half with Jamison Gibson-Park, while Hugo Keenan is at full-back. Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, and Tadhg Furlong are expected in the front row, with James Ryan and Joe McCarthy in the second row and Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, and captain Caelan Doris in the back row.

"The winger has been nursing a hamstring issue since the semi-final win over Toulon and was withdrawn from the team to face Ospreys last weekend. However, he has travelled to Bilbao with the squad and is expected to be named in the team at noon on Friday."

"Leo Cullen looks set to stick with the midfield partnership of Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose, despite the form of Jamie Osborne who is likely to be on the bench. And, with Rieko Ioane set to be named on the left wing, that means there'll be no place for James Lowe, Jordan Larmour and Jimmy O'Brien who have all played in Leinster's final defeats in recent seasons."

"Harry Byrne will be named at out-half alongside Jamison Gibson-Park, with Hugo Keenan at full-back. Up front, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are expected to be named in the front-row, with James Ryan and Joe McCarthy in the second-row as Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier and captain Caelan Doris make up the back-row."

"Paddy McCarthy could return to the bench alongside Ronan Kelleher and Tom Clarkson, with Alex Soroka and Max Deegan the likely forward cover and Luke McGrath, Ciaran Frawley and Osborne covering the backs. Possible Leinster team: H Keenan; T O'Brien, G Ringrose, R Henshaw, R Ioane; H Byrne, J Gibson-Park; A Porter, D Sheehan, T Furlong; J McCarthy, J Ryan; J Conan, J van der Flier, C Doris (capt)."

Read at Irish Independent