Fresh from an impressive win on the road, Leinster return to Dublin looking to make it two from two against a Cardiff Blues team in need of a win. The pair will meet at the RDS on Friday evening in a game kicking off at 7.35pm.

What’s at stake? Leinster had won 20 straight games in all competitions at the RDS until they were stunned by the Scarlets in last season’s semi-final so Leo Cullen’s side will be keen to bounce back in their first home game of the campaign. They face a Cardiff Blues side who were undone on home soil last week by Edinburgh and will be on the road for three of their next four games.

Team news (Leinster): Leo Cullen has made four changes to the Leinster side that beat the Dragons last time out, with Luke McGrath coming in at scrum-half. In the pack, James Tracy gets the nod at hoooker, while Rhys Ruddock and Jack Conan both come into the back row.

Team news (Cardiff Blues): For the Cardiff Blues Danny Wilson has made six changes from the team that went down at home to Edinburgh last weekend. Four changes come in the backline, with Rhun Williams, Garyn Smith, Tom James and Steven Shingler all brought in. Meanwhile in the pack there are starts for Keiron Assiratti and Macauley Cook.

Talking points: There was no hiding from the disappointment of the opening weekend for Danny Wilson, who felt his side failed to match the physical aspect of their opponents. Against a Leinster side who were very strong in defence, notably early on against the Dragons, Wilson is very much aware that the Blues cannot afford to be outmuscled for the second week running.

Key battle: Having just turned 20, tighthead prop Keiron Assiratti is only taking his first steps in the professional game, but will start in Dublin in the absence of Tau Filise. His opposite number at scrum-time will be the vastly experienced Ireland and Lions international Cian Healy in one of the bigger disparities in terms of time in the game.

Key stat: It has been seven years since Cardiff Blues last lost their first two games of the season. However their record against Leinster in recent times has not been great, losing their last 12, although they managed a bonus point in each of the last three, including two defeats by a single point.

Did you know? Devin Toner will become only the sixth Leinster player to have represented the province 200 times when he starts on Friday. He joins Jamie Heaslip as the only other active member of the squad to have achieved a double century of appearances for the side.

Leinster: R Kearney; A Byrne, R O’Loughlin, I Nacewa, J Larmour; R Byrne, L McGrath; C Healy, J Tracy, M Bent, D Toner, S Fardy, R Ruddock, J van der Flier, J Conan.

Replacements: S Cronin, E Byrne, A Porter, M Kearney, D Leavy, N McCarthy, C Marsh, B Daly.

Cardiff Blues: R Williams; A Cuthbert, G Smith, R Lee-Lo, T James; S Shingler, L Williams; R Gill, M Rees, K Assiratti; S Davies, D Welch; M Cook, J Navidi, J Turnbull.

Replacements: K Myhill, C Domachowski, D Lewis, J Down, S Bennett, T Williams, J Evans, M Morgan.

TV: TG4/BBC Wales (KO 7.35pm)

Match officials – Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU). Assistant Referee 1: F Murphy (IRFU). AR2: Eoin Hogan-O’Connell (IRFU). TMO: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU).

Guinness PRO14 Final 2018 Ticket Information: Fans can save up to 20% on selected tickets, and prices start at just €30 for adults and €5 for children, and be booked via www.ticketmaster.ie