IRELAND'S outstanding British Lions centre Brian O'Driscoll will face Newport at Rodney Parade on Friday.

He will line up for Leinster in the return Heineken Cup game after missing last Friday's 21-6 victory over the Black and Ambers at Donnybrook.

And fellow Irish international Denis Hickie is likely to play despite a shoulder injury sustained in last weekend's match.

But full back Girvan Dempsey will miss the game with an Achilles' tendon injury with his place likely to go to Peter McKenna.

"Brian was frustrated not playing last Friday but was very vocal from the stand." "He trained yesterday and is raring to go," said a Leinster official.

O'Driscoll has recovered from a minor knee injury and dislocated finger suffered in Ireland's victory over England and will take over from his replacement Adam Magro. McCormack says Hickie is "better than 50-50" to play, though Leinster are awaiting the result of a scan.

"It was thought he might have slightly torn the AC joint in his shoulder, but now we believe it is only bruising," said McCormack.

He added: "We were not very fluent against Newport last Friday. We had not played together for three weeks because of Ireland games.

"We hope to perform better on Friday."

* Meanwhile Cardiff's recruit from Rugby League, outside half Iestyn Harris, is today set to be named in the Wales squad of 30 for the forthcoming internationals against Argentina, Tonga and Australia.

The squad will also include Newport second row Ian Gough, despite only 40 minutes play since returning from a shoulder operation, Cardiff wing Anthony Sullivan and Bridgend's former Ebbw Vale flanker Nathan Budgett.