THE TENSION IS building nicely ahead of this weekend’s Heineken Cup action. And there’s plenty to report on the team news front.

Munster skipper Paul O’Connell is set to start his first competitive game for the province in 51 weeks.

After the second row returned from an extended eight-month lay-off with a misdiagnosed and unusual groin problem, he was dismissed against the Ospreys at Thomond Park.

Having now served a four-week ban, the Thomond Park chiefs are keen to draft him in immediately. Coach Tony McGahan told the Irish Times:

Paul is in very good nick. It’s a very difficult situation because fitness-wise, he’s been back available to play since ERC 3, so nothing has really changed in that regard.

It’s just game time.

He’s always been fit, and if anything he’s been able to train harder and push himself. He’s obviously missing the game time that you really need to get game-fit, but certainly from that perspective he’s fine to start.”

And Robin too, was happy to welcome back Batman. Donncha O’Callaghan described his friend’s return as “massive”, saying: “It’s great to have him back as a player but it’s also just for his leadership qualities, I think we need them at the moment.

He’s an incredible leader, the way he talks and addresses the lads, and the high standards he sets for both himself and the rest of us is probably the biggest asset in getting him back this time.

It’s great getting him back as a player but his leadership is needed more than ever.

Jamie Heaslip, though, looks unlikely to figure for Leinster in their Heineken Cup clash against Saracens at the RDS this Saturday as he continues to struggle with ankle problems.

He seemed to alert fans yesterday by tweeting that there would be “no weekend for me”, which the Irish Independent’s David Kelly reported.

But the Leinster man updated his page this morning, apparently disagreeing with that interpretation. We think.

He wrote: David Kelly, negative spin as always.tut tut

However, if Joe Schmidt’s side do have to prepare without the Ireland man, they will have a ready-made replacement in Sean O’Brien.