Having signed for the Irish province earlier this year, the southern hemisphere duo trained with the Magners League champions for the first time on Monday.

World Cup winner Van der Linde's likely inclusion comes after a degree of rest as a result of a five-match ban handed out prior to his arrival in Ireland, while Elsom's circumstances are almost the complete opposite. The 25-year-old former New South Wales Warratah started his country's Tri Nations decider against the All Blacks on September 13 meaning he will have had just a week off before facing the current Heineken Cup holders.

With the first round of European competition set to take place in just three weeks' time, Leinster head coach Michael Cheika appears keen to introduce both players to northern hemisphere rugby, even though a clash with domestic rivals Munster is hardly the most straightforward of introductions.