Joe Schmidt has called on the big guns for Leinster’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Treviso on Saturday as Ireland internationals Jamie Heaslip, Brian O’Driscoll and Jonny Sexton all return after a summer break.

No. 8 Heaslip captains the side that goes in search of a second win of the RaboDirect PRO12 season, having lost to the Scarlets in round one before cruising to a comfortable 45-25 win over Newport Gwent Dragons last time out.

Leinster have won their last seven fixtures against Italian opponents and in total, seven Ireland internationals are back to bolster the European champions, with Fergus McFadden joining O’Driscoll in the centres and Eoin Reddan linking up with Sexton in the half-backs.

Heaslip is also joined by Kevin McLaughlin and Mike Ross resumes his usual position at tighthead with Leo Cullen and Isa Nacewa both taking their places on the bench.

“It’s a privilege and an honour, like it always is, to lead out a group of lads who are your mates having just spent the last eight weeks pushing ourselves to the limit,” said Heaslip. “It’s an honour to be representative of that this week.

“It’s quite humbling as well to be given the honour. I relish it any time it comes across my shoulders. Hopefully, I’m able to lead on the pitch as well as guide the lads off it this week.

“But it’s awful handy. They may not all be captain, but we have so many leaders in the team. Sure we have Brian [O'Driscoll], the captain of our country, is there at centre; Leo [Cullen], our club captain, on the bench so he will at some stage take over.

“We’re lucky to have so many guys with a wealth of experience. They don’t need me leading, everyone is on the same page as it is.”

Devin Toner becomes the 20th Leinster player to reach the 100-cap milestone as he is named at second row alongside Damian Browne.

Ian Madigan, fresh from an 18-point haul against the Dragons, shifts to full-back in place of Isa Nacewa with both Fionn Carr and Andrew Conway continuing on the wings after scoring tries last weekend.

For Treviso meanwhile, Luke McLean returns at full-back while Edoardo Gori switches to right wing and Tobias Botes comes in a scrum-half.

In the centres, Luca Morisi joins Alberto Sgarbi and Ludovico Nitoglia comes in on the left wing while Alberto Di Bernardo continues at fly-half.

In the forwards, Franco Smith again rings the changes as Alberto De Marchi, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Ignacio Fernandez-Rouyet form a new-look front row Cornelius Van Zyl skippers the side from the second row, alongside Francesco Minto.

Simone Favaro is the only surviving forward as he takes his place at flanker while Alessandro Zanni and Robert Barbieri also get the nod.

Treviso won their opening game of the season against Ospreys but tripped up to Munster in round two while the Italians have lost their last five encounters with the Irish provinces.

Treviso's only previous victory over Leinster was 29-13 at Stadio Monigo on 18 September 2010.

Stadio Monigo, 7.05pm local time (6.05pm Ireland & UK).
Referee: Ian Davies (WRU, 3rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Carlo Damasco, Stefano Traversi (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Alberto Recaldini (FIR)
TMO: Stefano Marrama (FIR)

Live on Sportitalia and www.tg4.tv