HISTORY TELLS US that European quarter-finals are heavily favoured towards the home team, but Leinster will face a demanding and fascinating task when they host Bath in April.<\/p>\n
Attention for the wider rugby public turns towards the Six Nations now, while Matt O\u2019Connor\u2019s non-international players will enjoy a week off before tuning back into their Guinness Pro12 campaign.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In the background all the while, the Australian and his coaching team will be dissecting how Mike Ford\u2019s Bath play, searching for those small areas in which they can ensure this quarter-final will not be their final European game of the season.<\/p>\n
The Premiership side have been a joy to watch at stages in the current season and possess enough guile in their backline to tear any team apart. Their pack may not be full of household names, Francois Louw aside, but the forwards are hugely cohesive too.<\/p>\n
Still, the home draw is key and Leinster will back themselves to advance into a semi-final away to Toulon or Wasps.<\/p>\n
The Leinster head coach may watch some of Ireland\u2019s Six Nations games with apprehension, hoping that none of his leading players pick up long-term injuries. O\u2019Connor has suffered enough in that regard already this season.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Matt O’Connor is confident about Leinster’s ability in Dublin. Source: Dan Sheridan\/INPHO<\/p>\n
Sean O\u2019Brien and Cian Healy have been absentees for some time, while Rhys Ruddock missed the crucial final Pool 2 fixtures. Jack McGrath\u2019s suspension for stamping was untimely too, but it all means Leinster are likely to have personnel boosts by the time April rolls around.<\/p>\n
Outside centre Luke Fitzgerald is relishing the thought of what those players can add for Leinster in that clash with Bath.<\/p>\n