We will bounce back - Sexton

Confident: Jonathan Sexton

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Teams

• Leinster
• Munster

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• PRO12: Ed'gh v Treviso
• Scarlets v Dragons
• Ulster v Connacht

Leinster fly-half Jonathan Sexton is desperate for his side to get their season up and running with a derby victory over Munster on Saturday.

The Aviva Stadium is the setting for what promises to be an exciting encounter between the duo just a week before the 2012/13 Heineken Cup kicks-off.

Joe Schmidt's outfit have lost two of their first five league fixtures and just like last season, they look to find form before Europe's action starts.

"We've come back from worse situations than this before," he told Sky Sports.

"When Joe Schmidt first came in, we lost four of our first five games. That was a pretty tough place to be.

"People were calling for his head. People were saying the players were not performing. But we bounced back then and the next few weeks can define our season."

Sexton is set to go toe-to-toe with Ireland fly-half rival Ronan O'Gara this weekend, but he has played down the match-up by stating the team result is all that matters in Dublin.

"It's not about me versus Ronan O'Gara," he stated.

"It's Leinster versus Munster. That's the way and I've never looked at it as a one-on-one battle.

"At out-half, there are so many other things going on around you.

"Often it's very unfair to compare player against player after a game because one pack is on top or the other pack is on top and there are so many things that you rely on.

"I've never really looked at it as a one-on-one battle."

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