Big occasion for comeback kids

Tonight's representative friendlies: It may not quite constitute a match in the traditional sense but the three-period clash - 40 minutes and two 20s - won't be any less important for several Munster players.

Keith Wood and David Wallace returned to competitive action following shoulder injuries (Wallace did get a few minutes against Samoa in Apia) in the green jersey last weekend but tonight offers a further opportunity for game time.

John Hayes, who missed Ireland's summer tour through injury, is expected to prove his rehabilitation while Rob Henderson gets a chance to prove he is fully recovered from injury. The last eight months have been hugely frustrating for the former Lions centre and he knows he faces serious competition for a place on the plane to Australia.

He needs to provide evidence of sharpness before Ireland team manager Brian O'Brien and forwards coach Niall O'Donovan.

Munster supremo Alan Gaffney is likely to give most of the panel a run-out, including new boys Shaun Payne, Jason Jones Hughes and Andy Long and promising young players like Conrad O'Sullivan, Tom Hayes and Eugene McGovern.

One Rotherham player who'll have fond memories of Thomond Park is former Northampton and rugby league player Peter Jorgensen, the star in an Australian Schools side that beat Ireland (Anthony Foley played for Ireland) many moons ago, Jorgensen grabbing a try that day.

MUNSTER (from): D Crotty, J Staunton, M Lawlor, S Payne, M Mullins, J Jones Hughes, R Henderson, C O'Sullivan, A Horgan, M McPhail, J Holland, E Reddan, F Murphy, D Ulrich, F O'Loughlin, J Williams (capt), P Malone, D Wallace, C McMahon, A Quinlan, D Leamy, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, T Hogan, T Hayes, E Halvey, J Hayes, J Blaney, J Flannery, A Long, K Wood, M Horan, S Kerr, F Roche, E McGovern.

ROTHERHAM: J Benson; A Elliot, J Ewens, P Jorgensen, M Wood; P Jones, J Rauluni (capt); N Lloyd, C Jonson, C Wood, D Cook, G Kenworthy, L Greeff, J Cockle, R Earnshaw. Replacements: H Toews, G Remnant, G Lewis, C Harrison, J Strange, J Pritchard, S Bunting, N Spence, M Oliver.

Munster v Rotherham

Thomond Park (7.30)