LEINSTER

• Captain: Craig Mallon
• Overseas player: still tbc
• Players in: Sam Cassidy (Malahide)
• Players out: Anton Scholtz, Tim Law, Joel Leacock, Zac Scott
• Players to watch: Hugh MacDonnell, Gareth Delany, Bilal Azhar.

Defending champions Leinter will have Craig Mallon at the helm again for the third year running.

The club haven't secured an overseas player as yet and Joe Carroll will be delayed in arriving until June at the very earliest. In further blows to their playing resources, the Rathmines side have lost the services of Anton Scholtz as he has returned home to Melbourne full time. Zac Scott, Joel Leacock and Tim Law will all be missing from the 2012 senior playing group.

On the plus side, Richard Forrest will be in after his Trinity commitments are finished to don the gloves, while Sam Cassidy has joined the senior squad from Malahide in the winter.

There are 3 young guns to keep an eye on this summer, Hugh MacDonnell, who isn't brand new but a very good season last year will hold him in good stead for the year ahead, a few more overs of his left arm seamers will be called on too.

Gareth Delany (leg break/RH batsmen) after a great season in the 2nds last year and can look forward to seeing his name on more and more first team lists this summer.

Bilal Azhar (left arm seamer) is another who had a very impressive start to his senior career last year in the 2nds and will lead the attack this summer.

Speaking about the task facing Leinster, skipper Mallon said: "Summer 2013 will be a huge challenge for us but rest assured we will be giving 110% in a attempt to retain our Division 1 title."