IF THERE WAS ever a weekend to stay on the couch and watch the rugby it’s this one.

Leinster, Munster and Ulster all play crunch Heineken Cup games while the snow falls and the city centre stores heave with Christmas shoppers.

Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Heaslip have been named in the Leinster team to play ASM Clermont Auvergne tonmorrow at Lasndowne Rd, with over 43,000 tickets sold for the match (ko 5:45pm).

Heaslip will face a late fitness test following the warm up, with Dominic Ryan in reserve.

O’Driscoll partners Gordon D’Arcy at centre while the back three of Shane Horgan, Fergus McFadden and Isa Nacewa is unchanged from last weekend’s game in Stade Marcel Michelin.

Munster coach Tony McGahan, however, has made just one change from the side that beat Ospreys last weekend, for the return game at the Liberty Stadium tomorrow.

Donnacha Ryan comes onto the bench in place of banned captain Paul O’Connell.

O’Connell’s red card adds some spice to the tie at the Liberty stadium (3pm) – with Ospreys fuming that the lock only reeived a four-week ban.

The Reds for their part will wait until they’ve received the written verdict before deciding on an appeal, according to the province.

Ulster will be without Stephen Ferris for their clash with Bath at the Rec tomorrow, meanwhile.

Ferris is ruled out after injuring his leg in training this week while Willie Faloon starts ahead of Chris Henry who is named on the bench.

Leinster: I Nacewa, S Horgan, B O’Driscoll, G D’Arcy, F McFadden, J Sexton, E Reddan, C Healy, R Strauss, M Ross, L Cullen, N Hines, S O’Brien, S Jennings, J Heaslip.

Munster: P Warwick, D Howlett, K Earls, S Tuitupou, J Murphy, R O’Gara, T O’Leary, W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley, D O’Callaghan, M O’Driscoll, J Coughlan, D Wallace, D Leamy.

Ulster: A D’Arcy; A Trimble, N Spence, P Wallace, S Danielli; I Humphreys, R Pienaar, T Court, N Brady, BJ Botha, J Muller, D Tuohy, P Wannenburg, W Faloon, R Diack