Connacht flex their muscle

Team news: Connacht coach Michael Bradley has added all the muscle he could muster to his 22-man squad ahead of their daunting, yet familiar, match-up against Narbonne on Saturday at the Parc des Sports et de L'Amite.

Bradley has selected five forwards on the bench alongside Eric Elwood (the European Challenge Cup's leading scorer with 456 points) and scrumhalf Colm Keane.

In the case of injury out wide, starting scrumhalf Connor O'Loughlin will move to wing with Matt Mostyn covering the centre and full-back berths.

John O'Sullivan recovered from a shoulder problem this week only to be laid low by influenza. This means Portumna's John Muldoon moves from six to eight, with Michael Swift stepping up to the blindside berth. Other absentees are South African lock Pieter Myburgh (knee) and winger Conor McPhillips (hamstring).

In Narbonne's case their form is peaking at the right time as they overcame local rivals Beziers last week 28-20. After starting their domestic campaign poorly, at one stage they were second from bottom, they have won three of their last four games.

Meanwhile, Ulster will select their starting 15 today ahead of tomorrow night's opening European tie against the Cardiff Blues at Ravenhill.

At present, only Neil Best and Campbell Feather are available from the injury-ravaged back-row options with both Andy Ward (elbow) and Roger Wilson (ankle) hoping to come through fitness tests.

Another wounded frontline player, Johnny Bell, is expected to start but coach Mark McCall has confirmed he will only select those who are 100 per cent fit.

Some good news came this week as defensive specialist Neil Kelly, former Welsh rugby league coach, took his first sessions at Newforge Country Club - the province's new training base in Belfast.

Munster are also naming tomorrow ahead of Saturday evening's encounter with NEC Harlequins at Thomond Park. Donncha O'Callaghan (calf) and Shaun Payne (possible concussion) are excluded from the 26-man squad due to injury.

In Leinster, Eric Miller has made the replacements' bench ahead of Des Dillon for the trip to Treviso but Dillon and Kieran Lewis will travel as back-up.

"Who not to pick was the problem," said coach Declan Kidney. "The lads who weren't picked would have been naturally disappointed but their attitude in training on Monday and Tuesday was brilliant."

CONNACHT: M McHugh; M Mostyn, D Yapp, J Downey, T Robinson; P Warwick, C O'Loughlin; R Hogan, B Jackman, S Knoop; C Short, A Farley (capt); M Swift, M Lacey, J Muldoon.

Replacements: J Fogarty, D McFarland, P Bracken, M Carroll, P Neville, C Keane, E Elwood.

MUNSTER: (squad): P Burke, C Cullen, P Devlin, J Kelly, R Henderson, A Horgan, J Holland, M Lawlor, R O'Gara, M Prendergast, P Stringer, J Storey. T Bowman, A Foley, J Flannery, M Horan, T Hogan, J Hayes, S Keogh, D Leamy, G McIlwham, P O'Connell, A Quinlan, F Sheahan, J Williams, D Wallace.