WITh big investment comes big expectation and Leinster will be committed to putting back-to-back Magner's League titles together along with making a serious assault on the Heineken Cup.

Michael Cheika has been able to secure the services of, arguably, the best tight-head prop, CJ van der Linde, and the best blindside, Rocky Elsom, in world rugby to complement the more cerebral skills of Fiji's Isa Nacewa.

There is nothing like a couple of world-class signings to generate excitement and lift the level of ambition at a club. Brian O'Driscoll must be confident of recovering previous standards with the increased bulk up front.

All the pieces of the jigsaw are not present and available just yet. Van der Linde and Elsom will be given time to see what they have signed up to. Leinster will have to make-do away to Cardiff at the Arms Park tomorrow evening.

Anyway, the prolific Simon Keogh has returned to his province, Luke Fitzgerald and Robert Kearney will attempt to take their game to the next level and the likes of prop Cian Healy, hooker John Fogarty and back rower Sean O'Brien will look to pressurise those ahead of them.

Cheika will not stray too far away from the 15 that took time to slip into top gear against Queensland Reds in their last of three winning pre-season encounters last Saturday. It looks as though Nacewa, an instinctive ball player, will have a large part to play in the months ahead.

It will also be a seminal season for Malcolm O'Kelly as he bids to keep his career alive without the international class assistance provided in other sectors of the side. Trevor Hogan and Devin Toner are the only other specialist locks in the squad. Admittedly, Elsom and Cameron Jowitt can transfer to the engine room, but there will be a heavy burden on 34-year-old O'Kelly.

Cardiff are on the scent of a sixth successive League win, to follow five straight from the back end of last season, which would equal their record for consecutive League wins back in 2005/06.

Coach Dai Young will have his troops revved up for an explosive opening: "Our opponents on Saturday won the Magners League last season and were deserved winners, who did the double over us. They certainly haven't rested on their laurels. They've gone out and recruited and I'm sure they'll be looking to retain their title."

At the same time, Young does not lack confidence in his own squad which he claimed is "the best I've ever had" earlier this week. It all points towards an interesting opening salvo between two clubs with trophies on their minds.

Verdict: Leinster

- Des Berry