Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong will make his first appearance for Leinster since October in Sunday’s Investec Champions Cup game with La Rochelle.
Furlong, who missed Ireland’s autumn internationals with a hamstring injury, will make his 150th appearance for Leinster, a landmark that will also be reached by scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park.
Leinster, who last won the European title in 2018, are unbeaten in this season’s Champions Cup and in the United Rugby Championship.
Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle have also won both of their European matches with Bath and Bristol to top Pool 2 on points difference ahead of Leinster.
La Rochelle, who defeated Leinster in the 2022 and 2023 finals, are missing experienced forward Will Skelton though injury as O’Gara names a 7-1 split on the bench.
Leinster have made just one change to their back line from December’s win over Munster as Gibson-Park comes in for Luke McGrath at number nine.
Furlong and Cian Healy join Ronan Kelleher in an all-Ireland front row while Caelan Doris captains the team from number eight.
La Rochelle: Dulin; Nowell; Seuteni, Favre; Leyds; Hastoy, Kerr-Barlow; Wardi, Lespiaucq, Atonio; Lavault, Douglas; Boudehent, Jegou, Alldritt (capt).
Replacements: Clavier, Nail, Garnier, Marchais, Boichot, Kamoto, Thomas, Obiang Hguema.
Leinster: J Osborne; T O’Brien; Ringrose, Henshaw; J O’Brien; Prendergast, Gibson-Park; Healy, Kelleher, Furlong; J McCarthy, Ryan; Baird, van der Flier, Doris (capt).
Replacements: G McCarthy, Porter, Silmani, Snyman, Conan, McGrath, Byrne, Barrett.
