The 28-year-old was in the headlines again this week when he was handed a 15-month driving ban and a £1,000 fine for his drunken golf buggy incident after Wales beat Scotland in the Six Nations last month.

He will have been hoping to let his rugby finally do the talking against Leinster but while Wales teammates Tom Shanklin, Sam Warburton and Tom James were handed starting jerseys, Powell will warm the bench.

The Blues thrashed Glasgow 30-9 in their own back yard in their last game but Blues coach Dai Young knows every point will count as the season comes to a head.

“Our last three home matches in the Magners League are against Irish opposition,” said Young.

“We know all of these matches will be tough challenges with Irish rugby on a high following last season’s achievements. So we know we have a difficult run in, starting with today’s game.”