Leinster v La Rochelle: Four key head to heads for Aviva Stadium clash

Both teams are full of international stars as they face up in the Champions Cup knock-out stages for the fourth season in a row

CAELAN DORIS V GRÉGORY ALLDRITT

The battle of the captains. Doris leads the team out for the second time in Europe because James Ryan and Garry Ringrose are sidelined. Two big losses. He'll have his hands full against Alldritt, his Six Nations rival who has hit form after returning from an extended break after the World Cup and an injury scare in the Six Nations.

READ MORE: Leinster's Leo Cullen: "There seems to be a bit of a Cork bandwagon" for Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle

TADHG FURLONG V LOUIS PENVERNE

Leinster need to gain parity - at least - in the set piece and the ultra-experienced Furlong will find himself up against a 20-year-old loosehead at scrum-time. Leo Cullen has acknowledged it is a situation the Blues must try to take advantage of. Penverne, an under-20 World Cup winner, has come of age this season. This is a key match-up.

WILL CONNORS V LEVANI BOTIA

Back rowers who specialise in different elements of the role. Nicknamed 'Demolition man', Botia is a master of disruption at the breakdown and hurt Leinster in last year's final. Connors - who Cullen says is the best chop tackler around - was magnificent in the sides' pool meeting in December and starts in Europe for the first time since.

JAMISON GIBSON-PARK V TAWERA KERR-BARLOW

If Gibson-Park is humming then Leinster are humming. His stunning 17-minute hat-trick against Leicester last week underlined his importance to the Blues and La Rochelle will do everything in their power to slow down his ball. Kerr Barlow missed the 2023 final through injury but performed well in last year's decider and his massive experience - he's a 2015 World Cup winner - is vital to his club's cause.

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