Leinster may be out of the GUINNESS PRO12 title race but there is still the small matter of European qualification and Eoin Reddan is eager to take a giant leap towards that goal on Friday night. The Irish province will host Benetton Treviso at the RDS knowing six points from their final two league games will secure safe passage to next season’s Champions Cup. With just two wins in their last ten matches in all competitions, Leinster are not on top form – but they have lost just one of their last 11 at home and not suffered defeat at the hands of Italian opposition since September 2010. Head coach Matt O’Connor has made five changes to the side that started defeat to Ulster last time out, with Dave Kearney returning to fitness to replace the injured Luke Fitzgerald on the left wing. Ian Madigan returns at inside centre, in place of the retiring Gordan D’Arcy, while Reddan and Jimmy Gopperth make up the half-backs. Mike McCarthy will win his 50th Leinster cap when he packs down with Devin Toner in the second row and Jack McGrath comes in for Cian Healy in the front row. And Jordi Murphy replaces Dominic Ryan on the blindside to join Sean O’Brien and captain Jamie Heaslip in the loose. “It's about winning the games, really, and seeing where we end up,” Reddan told the club website. “We've gone through a few of the possible scenarios but at the same time the teams we're playing are quite difficult and tricky, so we have to pay them the respect they deserve and just focus on our jobs and try and get the wins. “They're must-win games like we have every year at the end of the year, it's just the prize is a bit different. “But it's a very important prize and an opportunity to finish the season strong and guarantee our European qualification next year, which is a pretty big prize. It's not ideal that we have to fight for it but that's where we are.” Treviso head coach Umberto Casellato has hardly tinkered with the side that troubled Munster last time out. Enrico Bacchin returns from illness to start at inside centre, while Andrea Pratichetti takes the No.14 shirt from Simone Ragusi. The only change up front sees flanker Nicola Cattina replace Francesco Minto, while Marco Fuser is in the second row for his 50th Treviso cap. The Italians have lost their last five GUINNESS PRO12 matches, while their only victory on the road in the competition this season came when they visited Zebre in December. And Reddan is hoping the home support in Dublin can ensure that record stays in place. He added: “It will be great to be able to play in front of our home fans and give them something to shout about in terms of how we perform, in terms of how we carry, how we take them on physically. “We need to win to be in Europe. I think being at home will help that.” Follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the GUINNESS PRO12 At RDS Arena, 7.35pm. Live on TG4 Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU, 51st competition game) Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan, Ken Imbusch (IRFU) Citing Commissioner: Eugene Ryan (IRFU) TMO: Jude Quinn (IRFU)
