While Ireland gear up for the visit of France in the Six Nations. Leinster, who will contribute almost two thirds of the Ireland starting XV, will be showing off their reserves as they take on Aironi the RDS tomorrow.
Predictably, it is the backline which is weakened most during the international period with Fijian one-capper, Isa Nacewa the only experienced professional behind the scrum.
They will pack plenty of grunt amongst the forwards with squad regulars, Dominic Ryan, Stephen Keogh and Rhys Ruddock (as captain) in the row behind Devin Toner and Kevin McLaughlin.
Head coach Joe Schmidt will hope that the youthful exuberance can be tempered by a solid base in the front row where Heinke Van Der Merwe and Clint Newland will be out to impress in the absence of Ireland's first choice props; Cian Healy and Mike Ross.
Their hooker has no need to impress any further. Richardt Strauss has been a pivotal cog in Leinster's brilliance so far this season and supporters will look to him to carry plenty of ball against the Italian outfit.
Although inexperienced, there is plenty to get excited about in this developmental line-up. This week it became apparent that French Top 14 clubs have begun to target the Leinster academy as part of their overseas recruitment drive rather than wait until they are tied down to comparable IRFU contracts.
Eoin O'Malley will draw huge interest as he starts in the centre and expect fireworks if these backs can work the ball wide to Andrew Conway, the speedster on the right wing.
Aironi too have lost players to international duty, but fullback Paolo Buso will make his Magners League debut after appearing for Italy A in their defeat to the England Saxons two weeks ago. As ever, former Munster back row, Nick Williams will seek to provide go forward ball off the base of the scrum.
However, with a few experienced heads in the mix the hosts should provide a good platform for the next generation to show their worth.
LEINSTER: 15: Isa Nacewa, 14: Andrew Conway, 13: Brendan Macken, 12: Eoin O'Malley, 11: David Kearney, 10: Ian Madigan, 9: Paul O'Donohoe, 1: Heinke van der Merwe, 2: Richardt Strauss, 3: Clint Newland, 4: Kevin McLaughlin, 5: Devin Toner, 6: Rhys Ruddock CAPT, 7: Dominic Ryan, 8: Stephen Keogh
Replacements: 16: Jason Harris-Wright, 17: Jack McGrath, 18: Simon Shawe, 19: Ed O'Donoghue, 20: Shane Jennings, 21: Isaac Boss, 22: Ian McKinley, 23: Niall Morris
Aironi: 15 Paolo Buso; 14 Kaine Robertson, 13 Gabriel Pizarro, 12 Horacio San Martin, 11 Danwel Demas; 10 James Marshall, 9 Tito Tebaldi; 1 Alberto De Marchi, 2 Roberto Santamaria, 3 Fabio Staibano; 4 Marco Bortolami (CAPT), 5 Joshua Furno; 6 Nicola Cattina, 7 Jaco Erasmus, 8 Nick Williams.
Replacements: 16 Luigi Ferraro, 17 Andrea De Marchi, 18 Luca Redolfini, 19 George Biagi, 20 Andrea Benatti, 21 Pietro Travagli, 22 Alberto Benettin, 23 Matteo Pratichetti.
Referee: Nigel Owens
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