Leinster’s Mike McCarthy has urged his side to keep their focus in the RaboDirectPRO12, knowing that any slip-up could see them end their season with nothing to show for their efforts.

The Irish region failed to bounce back from their European exit at the hands of Toulon as they slumped to a 25-19 defeat against the Ospreys last Friday at the Liberty stadium.

That result ended a run of eight straight RaboDirect PRO12 victories for Leinster – a stretch that has seen them take their place at the top of the table with just three games to go.

They return to action at the RDS on Friday against a Treviso side high on confidence after they ran in five tries to dispatch Newport Gwent Dragons 45-27 last time out.

And with now just the one shared goal of winning the RaboDirect PRO12 title, the second-row admits it is time his side rediscovered their winning touch.

"We're in a good place looking at the table," said McCarthy. "We know it's knockout rugby now. Anymore slip-ups and that could be the season for us.

“We want to cement the top place obviously to try and get the home semi-final and home final. We've got tough teams to play. We know we're going to have to improve.

"Treviso are a very big, physical side and they had a very big win against Dragons at the weekend. It's going to be nice for us to be back at home at the RDS and we're looking forward to being there.

“But we're under no illusions; Treviso are playing some good rugby at the moment.

“Getting knocked out {of Europe] has given us one focus. We want to win it and we'll be doing our best to go out and try and win it."

Leinster welcome back Brian O’Driscoll to their starting XV in place of Gordon D’Arcy, with Darragh Fanning starting on the left wing.

McCarthy himself will start ahead of Leo Cullen and Rhys Ruddock and Jordi Murphy both take their place in the back row instead of the injured Kevin McLaughlin and Shane Jennings.

Treviso have been forced into changing the make-up of their front five with Matteo Muccignat coming in at loose head, while Marco Fuser and Valerio Bernabo will form a new second-row partnership.

The backs remain unchanged with Tobias Botes set to make his 100th appearance for the Italian side and Dean Budd returns to the bench for the first time since January.

Treviso face an uphill battle when they travel to Ireland – Leinster having not lost at home in the RaboDirect PRO12 in their last 11 games.

But they will be buoyed by the fact that earlier in the season at the Stadio Monigo, Leinster needed a 75^th minute penalty from Jimmy Gopperth to seal a narrow 21-20 victory.

At Royal Dublin Society, 5pm Live on TG4/Sport Mediaset

Referee: Neil Paterson (SRU, 59th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Eddie Hagon-O’Connell, Will O’Connor (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (IRFU)
TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)