NEWPORT have sprung a big surprise by going for Joe Powell at openside flanker in tomorrow nights big Heineken Cup clash against Leinster at Donnybrook.

Both teams have won their two pool games so far to be joint leaders, but the Irishmen are top on try count.

So something has to give, and Powell has been handed the role of openside against one of the best back divisions in the game.

He comes in for recognised openside Jason Forster, who has been a virtual ever-present this season, starting nine of the ten games.

Powell is a number eight or blindside by inclination, particularly useful at the tail of the line-out, and has rarely played anywhere else.

He hasnt started a game this season, going on as a replacement five times but now he gets a key role in an unfamiliar position.

Its not the first time coach Ian McIntosh has pulled a rabbit out of the selection hat.

He started with Ceri Jones and Chris Anthony at prop at Newcastle, but it paid dividends.

As ever, McIntosh is guarded with his on-the-record comments about team selection.

Were starting with Joe at seven, its a rotation move. Hes been playing good rugby and it could be part of our strategy, he said.

Joe gives us a bit more weight in the scrum and height at the back of the line-out.

As the quickest player in the back row on duty tomorrow, Andrew Powell might have been the openside with Joe Powell at number eight, but McIntosh has other ideas.

It is the only change from the side which won its fifth game in a row by beating Swansea. Newport have props Adrian Garvey and Ceri Jones on a bench which does not feature a regular hooker.

Weve gone with four props before and Ceri has played at hooker, said McIntosh.

A replacement again but sure to go on is Wales lock Ian Gough, now back after his shoulder injury.

Team: M Pini, M Mostyn, A Marinos, J Pritchard, M Watkins, S Howarth, O Tonuu, R Snow, J Richards, C Anthony, S Raiwalui (captain), M Voyle, P Buxton, A Powell, J Powell. Replacements: J Strange, N Brew, D Burn, C Jones, A Garvey, I Gough, J Forster. Kick off 7pm.

Though named in the Leinster side, Brian ODriscoll has not trained all week. He will train for the first time tomorrow with Adam Magro standing by.