Over 15,000 tickets have been sold for Connacht's Magners League clash against Leinster at the RDS on Friday.

Leinster coupled tickets for the game with their glamour Heineken Cup tie with Leicester the following week and fans have snapped them up.

It remains to be seen how many of them turn out on Friday night but there is no doubt this will probably be the biggest crowd Connacht have performed in front.

And Michael Bradley's men will go there with a settled side, anxious to build on their solid performance against Edinburgh.

Connacht coach Bradley says that there encounters with the other Irish provinces are always intensive and have a special appeal.

"I think all the sides, Munster, Leinster, Ulster and Connacht recognise that the most intense matches tend to be the derbies.

"We've had our opportunities in particular last year against Leinster, and if we were able to sustain our effort for 80 minutes we would have won both or either match but we didn't.

"Leinster have quality in their side but there is no reason to fear them going into this match and we look forward to the challenge of playing them in the RDS," said Bradley who is unlikely to make many changes from the side which did duty against Edinburgh and Cardiff.

This will be the last round of the Magners League before the opening rounds of the European Challenge Cupa way to Brive and at home to Cetransa El Salvador from Spain.

"We're going up there full of confidence based on the performances we've had so far in the season. We think that Leinster are also playing very well. They've improved their squad this year, as have we and there are big European matches around the corner so there is a lot to play for, for both sides," added Bradley.

His counterpart, Leinster coach Michael Cheika, said that he expects a serious challenge from Connacht in the RDS on Friday evening.

"One thing I've seen is that they have become a serious competitor week in week out. They're a very well coached team. They play together as a team. I don't think the old 'chip on the shoulder' is there much anymore because they play at a high level against the same opponents as us.

"They've bought smartly with the likes of Johnny O'Connor, Mel Deane and Tim Donnelly, who I know from Australia. He is good at orchestrating the game well. He has also played Super 14. They've changed Conor McPhillips into a half-back which is smart and their second rows are very effective. Everyone knows that they're a very competitive outfit," said Cheika.

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