Leinster head coach Matt O’Connor believes his side must exploit their home advantage if they are to give themselves a chance of defending their RaboDirect PRO12 crown in the Grand Final this season. O’Connor’s troops topped the regular season table and as a result welcome Ulster to the RDS on Saturday in what is a repeat of last year’s final. Leinster are playing in a fifth successive home play-off and they have not finished outside the top three since season 2003-04. Their solitary defeat in their last 12 RaboDirect PRO12 matches came on a visit to Ospreys in round 19. And they were the only side to remain undefeated at home in the competition this season, their last RaboDirect PRO12 defeat at the RDS coming at the hands of Ulster in March 2013. Leinster have won their last three matches against Ulster – including last year's final – but O’Connor believes his side were tested to the limited in both RaboDirect PRO12 meetings this season. He said: “We have the utmost respect for the Ulster squad. Already this year we have had two incredibly physical and enthralling games against them and I have no doubt but that tomorrow will be no different. “Training has gone very well and we are very excited by the challenge that this Ulster team will bring. “This is where we wanted to be at the start of the year. We are at home in a semi-final having topped the table. Home advantage is crucial but it is up to us now to make sure that this advantage pays off. “The players really can't wait for tomorrow. A full house in the RDS is an electric atmosphere and they look forward to taking to the field and rising to the challenge from Ulster. “At this time of the year and with the quality of the squad at their disposal, we will need to be at our very best.” O'Connor has made eight changes in total from the XV that started last weekend against Edinburgh and in doing so has selected the same pack – bar Mike McCarthy – that won in Ravenhill a fortnight ago. Cian Healy, Sean Cronin, Martin Moore, Devin Toner and Quinn Roux all return while Rhys Ruddock and Shane Jennings come into the back row, meaning Sean O’Brien is on the bench. There is only one change to the backs with Eoin Reddan starting at scrum-half. Ulster, meanwhile, have made 13 changes to the youthful side that beat Munster at Thomond Park last time out with the timely returns of Rory Best and Ruan Pienaar. Tommy Bowe and Andrew Trimble are named on the wings while Jared Payne is selected at outside-centre, with Darren Cave starting at 12. Paddy Jackson is named at out-half alongside the returning Pienaar. Ricky Lutton, who missed last month's game against Leinster with a toe injury, is back at tighthead while skipper Johann Muller starts alongside Iain Henderson in the second row. Robbie Diack has recovered from the ankle injury that he sustained against Connacht and joins Chris Henry and Roger Wilson in the back row. “We had a great result with a couple of young boys going down to Munster, which was absolutely outstanding,” said Muller. “There were a lot of positives and it is good to have a week's break to get the body into some sort of shape for the semi-finals. “We truly believe we are a good enough side to make it through the semi-finals but it is going to take something really special to beat a great side like Leinster. “Playing against a really tough side like Leinster is a great challenge but we are really excited for that prospect.” At RDS Dublin, 7pm Live on RTE/BBC NI/S4C Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU., 40th competition game) Assistant Referees: Ian Davies (WRU), Neil Paterson (SRU) Citing Commissioner: Paul Minto (SRU) TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)
