TONIGHT'S Celtic League showdown between Leinster and Newport Gwent Dragons at Lansdowne Road could be one of the games of the season, predicts Australian Gary Ella, the Irish team's coach.

He is well aware the Dragons are a formidable team chasing the title, but Leinster field their strongest team for over three months and Ella says some are playing for places on the summer tour to South Africa.

"We are up for this one and we are playing to win the game regardless," he said. "It's true that on paper they have got more to play for so we want to beat one of the top sides in the competition.

"Most of our side are in contention for the Ireland tour to South Africa and there are still spots there that the players are playing for.

"They want to get selected and unless we do well as a team to give them that chance it won't happen.

"I think it's going to be one of the games of the season, the pitch is fast, there's no wind and it doesn't look like rain.

"It's the strongest side Leinster have fielded since the Heineken Cup (they missed out on a quarter-final place when they lost in Biarritz in the final pool match at the end of January).

"It's the first time Brian O'Driscoll and Shane Horgan have been fit together for some time, though I'm disappointed Gordon D'Arcy isn't playing.

"But Brian will be there, and back at outside centre (he played inside centre for Ireland in the Six Nations Championship with D'Arcy as his partner).

"He feels most comfortable at outside centre and he has played mostly with Shane so that combination is back together.

"It's also good to see Eric Miller (the Ireland and British Lions back row forward) back on the field after a shoulder injury. He played one half against Ulster last week."

Ella knows the strength of the Dragons side lies in their teamwork, and he compares that with the inability of Leinster to field a full team often this season because of World Cup and Six Nations commitments.

"They are a very good team and they play that way rather than rely on much individual brilliance," he said. The advantage Gwent have is they have been playing consistently with almost a full squad continually available whereas we haven't had that luxury."

Though Ella is aware of the Dragons' teamwork he picked out two individuals in their side - Percy Montgomery, obviously, the other one being Tongan full back Sione Tuipulotu.

"They do have some fine players. Percy is obviously a great player, but I've been very impressed with Tuipulotu as well," he said.

And Ella warned the Dragons, "Lansdowne Road (the game has been moved there because the Donnybrook pitch is unfit) is still very much a home game for us.

"For some players like Brian O'Driscoll that will be a positive move. We are all looking forward to it very much."