ROB KEARNEY RETURNS to the Leinster line-up as he gets set to make his first start at full-back since their win over the Scarlets earlier this month.

The Irish international pulled up with a hamstring injury in that game on 6 November and has missed his side’s opening pair of Champions Cup defeats over the last fortnight.

Leo Cullen has also opted to make yet another change in the half-back line for their Guinness Pro12 encounter with Ulster on Friday; Luke McGrath coming in at scrum-half to partner Johnny Sexton in place of Isaac Boss.

Elsewhere, Zane Kirchner will win his 50th cap for the province on the wing, two years after his debut.

There are also four changes to Leinster’s forwards following last weekend’s defeat to Bath, starting with Jack McGrath replacing Cian Healy.

Tadhg Furlong, Mike McCarthy and Josh van der Flier also make the first XV, the latter following his try-scoring debut in the Champions Cup.

Leinster XV to face Ulster

15. Rob Kearney
14. Zane Kirchner
13. Ben Te’o
12. Ian Madigan
11. Luke Fitzgerald
10. Johnny Sexton
9. Luke McGrath

1. Jack McGrath
2. Sean Cronin
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Devin Toner
5. Mike McCarthy
6. Rhys Ruddock
7, Josh van der Flier
8. Jamie Heaslip CAPTAIN

Replacements
16. James Tracy
17. Peter Dooley
18. Martin Moore
19. Ross Molony
20. Dominic Ryan
21. Eoin Reddan
22. Noel Reid
23. Garry Ringrose

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