PREP FOR SAINTS HAS STARTED

LEINSTER were keeping their cards close to their chest yesterday but it looks like they are going to use Saturday's game with Scarlets as a dry run for Northampton the following week.

- BY DEREK FOLEY

This means taking the team that thrashed Harlequins 62-0 in the Last 16 and crushed Glasgow 52-0 in the quarter-final to west Wales.

Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jordie Barrett, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Jamie Osborne and Hugo Keenan all had last weekend off and Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, RG Snyman, Sam Prendergast were on the bench.