Returning to the side after injury breaks are outside half Jason Strange and props Ceri Jones and Adrian Garvey. The return of Strange to the No 10 jersey means Shane Howarth reverts to full back.
Matt Pini is missing from the squad because of a shoulder injury sustained in the defeat by Cardiff last weekend. Anoth casualty from that game is Wales centre Andy Marinos.
Matt Mostyn moves in off the wing to join Scott Williams at centre and Alex Cadwallader makes his second start of the season on the right wing.
Jones and Garvey take over from Rod Snow and Chris Anthony at prop, while Joe and Andrew Powell come into the back row in place of Gareth Gravell and Steve Ojomoh.
Newport were involved in three epic clashes with Leinster last season. They lost 21-6 and 26-21 in the Heineken Cup and were then beaten 34-22 at Donnybrook in the quarter-finals of the Celtic League.
Leinster will be at full strength for the game following the end of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying campaign. In the absence of 10 international squad members, the inaugural Celtic League champions have lost their last four games after launching their season with a home win over Pontypridd.
Still ruled out for Newport at present are Wales A centre Jonathan Pritchard, who is recovering from a broken bone in his right foot and Wales Under 21 centre Hal Luscombe.
NEWPORT RUGBY: Shane Howarth; Alex Cadwallader, Matt Mostyn, Scott Wiliams, Luke Nabaro; Jason Strange, Ofisa Tonu’u; Ceri Jones, James Richards, Adrian Garvey, Simon Raiwalui (captain), Mike Voyle, Joe Powell, Jason Forster, Andrew Powell.
Replacements: Chris Anthony, Paul Young, Steve Ojomoh, Gareth Gravell, Andrew Wagstaff, Michael Hook, Llyr Lane.
