Leinster head coach Joe Schmidt admits he has no fears over unleashing Brian O’Driscoll back into RaboDirect PRO12 action on Friday against the Ospreys.

O’Driscoll, who captained Ireland at last year’s World Cup but missed the Six Nations in its entirety, has recovered from shoulder surgery and starts for the European champions at the RDS.

Leinster are currently top of the RaboDirect PRO12 table while their record-breaking unbeaten run in all competitions now stands at 20, having not lost since September 17 when they were beaten by Glasgow Warriors.

Schmidt’s side have an indifferent record against the Ospreys, currently third in the table, having won just one of their last four clashes with the region in the equivalent fixture last season.

On the opening day of the season, Ospreys cruised to a 27-3 win at the Liberty Stadium but Schmidt is in buoyant mood ahead of O’Driscoll’s comeback.

"His reputation precedes him as a fast healer," Schmidt told the Irish Times.

"This is the very earliest we felt we'd have him back. The prognosis was he'd return a month or six weeks later but things have gone really well for him in his rehabilitation.

"For us, if he was to be in contention for some of the big games coming up, he'd want to get at least a bit of time under his belt this Friday.

"He's had a couple of hits on the shoulder. Not body on body but certainly body on hit-shield. He came through that no problem last Friday so he has had a weekend to recover from that."

Schmidt is also boosted by the return of captain Leo Cullen who returns to the second row after recovering from an Achilles injury and he will pack down with World Cup winning All Black Brad Thorn, who makes his first start for Leinster.

The Ospreys welcome back their Grand Slam winning Wales internationals with Alun Wyn Jones captaining the side and forming a second-row partnership with Ryan Jones – Ian Evans will make his 100th appearance for the region if he comes off the bench.

Prop Adam Jones is also on the bench and while the Ospreys have lost their last two matches, head coach Steve Tandy is confident his side will not make it three in a row for the first time since May 2008.

"It's good to be able to welcome back our internationals on the back of their Grand Slam success, and we'll be looking for them to bring that buzz back with them to the region,” said Tandy.

“We're proud of what they've achieved with Wales, to have 11 boys involved in the Grand Slam is something special, but it's important now that everyone focuses on the remaining five games of the regular season and the battle for the play-offs.

"Leinster away is always a big ask. Their home record in this competition speaks for itself so we know what to expect out there.

“But, we've won there before and there are plenty of players in this group with that experience to fall back on so although we are still a pretty young group, we believe in each other and our own ability.”

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU, 36th competition game)
Assistant Referees: SimonMcDowell, Olly Hodges (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner :MurrayWhite (IRFU)
TMO: Alan Rogan (IRFU)

Live on RTE Sport and BBC Cymru Wales.