Leinster Toulon: where things stand

Leinster v Toulon Aviva Stadium, Dublin Saturday 2 May, 3.00pm. Leinster Toulon has emerged this Saturday as one of the stories drawing attention in Ireland.

Key facts

• Leinster v Toulon Aviva Stadium, Dublin Saturday 2 May, 3.00pm.
• Andrew Porter has been declared fit to face Toulon in Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).
• Losing is not an option for Leinster and that may drive them over the line against Toulon in this afternoon's Champions Cup semi-final at Aviva Stadium.
• Follow our live blog on Leinster v Toulon in the Investec Champions Cup from 3pm on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
• No place for ex-Munster centre Antoine Frisch as Toulon go for 6/2 bench split.

What we know

Going deeper, Andrew Porter has been declared fit to face Toulon in Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final against Toulon at the Aviva Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 3pm).

On the substance, Losing is not an option for Leinster and that may drive them over the line against Toulon in this afternoon's Champions Cup semi-final at Aviva Stadium.

Beyond the headlines, Follow our live blog on Leinster v Toulon in the Investec Champions Cup from 3pm on RTÉ.ie/sport and RTÉ News app and listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.

More precisely, No place for ex-Munster centre Antoine Frisch as Toulon go for 6/2 bench split.

It is worth noting that Leinster, near imperious on the way to three Investec Champions Cup finals and a semi-final in the last four years, have arrived back into the last four in a different fashion this time around.

By the numbers

At this stage, We'll know more at 5pm this evening when Leinster will either be looking forward to a Bilbao blockbuster against Bordeaux-Begles or Bath, or wondering, once again, where it all went wrong.

On a related note, Andrew Porter (below) is back for his first action since the start of April but it's more about who is missing for Leinster that causes more concern for the teams' fifth meeting and first since 2015.

Going deeper, Hooker Dan Sheehan has been Leinster's best player this season and it would not be a surprise to see him do the full 80 if needed, redeploying to the back row

On the substance, Leo Cullen’s men hope a home crowd of more than 35,000 will play a big role.

The wider context

On a related note, Leinster have to show they’ve learned the hard way, but Toulon’s plan is to spoil the party in Dublin today.

Going deeper, Leinster v Toulon preview: Blues bidding to put ghosts of past to bed, but French giants look primed in semi-final.

On the substance, Leinster haven’t given up on Andrew Porter starting against Toulon, but Tadhg Furlong is a major doubt.

Beyond the headlines, ‘They’ve caused plenty of pain’ – Weight of history against Leinster as Leo Cullen’s men eye first win over Toulon.

More precisely, ‘We’ve spoken around what worked for the France boys’ – Toulon’s Ben White on plotting a semi-final upset against Leinster.

The bottom line

• Hooker Dan Sheehan has been Leinster's best player this season and it would not be a surprise to see him do the full 80 if needed, redeploying to the back row - as he did against Sale.
• Toulon said they expect around 400 of their fans to be in Dublin.
• With a capacity of 51,711, there is plenty more room at the Aviva Stadium, where a crowd of 42,207 watched Leinster’s loss to Northampton at this stage of the Champions Cup last season.