Leinster are the best side in the RaboDirect PRO12 on current form having won their last seven matches since Ulster beat them in Belfast in December.

Leinster will be expecting an Ulster backlash in their inter-provincial clash at the RDS on Saturday, according to second row Devin Toner.

The European champions welcome an Ulster side that has run out of steam of late, winning just one of their last five matches following an 11-game winning streak to start the season.

Leinster on the other hand have gone from strength to strength, winning their last seven RaboDirect PRO12 matches since a 27-19 defeat to Ulster to move top of the table.

History is with Joe Schmidt’s side – Leinster's only home defeat to a fellow Irish province since 2003 in the RaboDirect PRO12 was to Munster at the RDS in September 2008.

And the Ulstermen have lost their last three away games in the competition since beating Scarlets in Llanelli in early December while they have not beaten a fellow Irish province on their own soil in the PRO12 since a trip to Connacht in September 2009.

But Toner is expecting Ulster to arrive in Dublin firing on all cylinders.

“The gap between us was huge at one stage, but we have gained an advantage now and I am sure Ulster will be gunning for us on Saturday night,” he said.

“They will want to wrestle back top spot. It's up to us to stop them. I think we have the only 100 per cent home record in the competition and that is something we want to hold on to as well.

“It's always special for us playing at the RDS. This is a chance for us to make up for the mistakes we made in the game in Ravenhill too.

“We allowed them to bully us in the scrums in particular and it is something we have worked on a lot, this week in particular.”

Rob Kearney is one of seven internationals to return to the starting line-up following Leinster’s victory over the Glasgow Warriors last weekend.

Gordon D'Arcy will make his 219th appearance while hooker Richardt Strauss will make his 75th after recovering from injury and takes his place in the front row alongside fellow international colleagues Cian Healy and Mike Ross.

Toner, a second-half replacement last weekend, partners Quinn Roux at lock while Jamie Heaslip leads the team and features in an experienced back-row alongside Shane Jennings and Kevin McLaughlin.

For Ulster, Mark Anscombe, has made six changes to the side that lost to Edinburgh with Ruan Pienaar and Chris Henry returning to the side having recovered from injury.

No.8 Nick Williams, who played the second half at Murrayfield last weekend, starts his first game since suffering a knee injury in January and Ireland internationals Rory Best and Craig Gilroy return to the Ulster side following the Six Nations.

“They're the sort of games you want to be part of,” Best told the Belfast Telegraph. “From an Ulster point of view it doesn't get any bigger than playing the Heineken Cup holders in their own back yard.

“We talked about wanting to be in the shake-up at this stage of the season so the next two games are massive for us.

“We can gear ourselves for two big performances, two big results and two home semi-finals or we can make life very, very difficult for ourselves.”

At RDS Dublin, 6.15pm. Live on RTE/BBC NI
Referee: George Clanc y (IRFU, 53rd competition game)
Assistant Referees: Leo Colgan, David Connolly (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Murray White (IRFU)
TMO: Jude Quinn (IRFU)