Brian O'Driscoll should be fit to face Exeter © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Kevin McLaughlin | Brian O'Driscoll

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

Teams: Ireland | Leinster

Leinster are optimistic that Ireland duo Kevin McLaughlin and Brian O'Driscoll will be fit to face the Exeter Chiefs in their Heineken Cup opener on Saturday.

McLaughlin hyper-extended his arm against Munster on Saturday but the Leinster management are said to be "hopeful" that he will recover in time to face the Chiefs. The news will come as a huge boost to the Irish province who are going into the match without back-rowers Sean O'Brien, Rhys Ruddock and Dominic Ryan.

O'Driscoll, who was a key part of their charge to back-to-back Heineken Cup titles, is also set to be fit despite rolling his ankle against Munster. Leinster also had worries over Fijian flyer Isa Nacewa after he suffered a haematoma in a collision with Conor Murray, but like his Irish counterparts, Leinster are hopeful that he will take to the field against the Chiefs.

And Leinster are also optimistic that quartet Isaac Boss (arm), skipper Leo Cullen (arm), Gordon D'Arcy (rib) and Cian Healy (bicep) will make their return to the match day squad after missing the match with Munster.

Quinn Roux and Rob Kearney, however, are both set to miss the game but Leinster claim that they are hopeful that Kearney will be fit for their trip to the Scarlets on October 20.