Munster v Glasgow: Munster don't have too many scores to settle this season, but this is definitely one. Admittedly they were still in the process of amalgamating their frontline players, but their 32-10 defeat to the Warriors at Hughenden in September was arguably their worst performance of the season, when almost everything that could go wrong did go wrong.
Munster have long since hit a groove, and not alone forged another unlikely home quarter-final in the Heineken European Cup but also resume league action on top of the table after seven wins in eight games.
Yet, whereas Glasgow have been moderately hit by the demands of the Six Nations, and are missing Dan Parks, Scott Lawson, and Jon Petrie, Munster are missing six of the Irish pack as well as their first-choice halves. This is where the value of signing Federico Pucciariello comes to the fore, while the likes of Donncha O'Callaghan and Mick O'Driscoll, not to mention Anthony Foley, provide a spine of experience up front and have plenty to play for with one eye on the Welsh game next week.
With Paul Burke and Jeremy Manning still sidelined, Munster have had to press Mossy Lawlor into action again at outhalf. It's a tough ask of the Shannon wing- cum-centre, and it would help him no end if Tomás O'Leary sped up his service. If he does, they still have enough to win.
MUNSTER: S Payne; J Kelly, B Murphy, T Halstead, A Horgan; M Lawlor, T O'Leary; F Roche, D Fogarty, F Pucciariello; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; S Keogh, J O'Connor, A Foley (capt). Replacements: T Buckley, M Horan, T Hogan, J O'Sullivan, M Prendergast, B Keeshan, G Connolly.
WARRIORS: R Lamont; H O'Hare, G Morrisson, S Davey, M Roberts; C Gregor, S Pinder; K Tkachuk, F Thomson, E Murray; D Turner, C Hamilton; S Swindall, J Petrie (capt), G Hayter. Replacements: L Harrison, S Lawson, J Eddie, S Corsar, I Monaghan, I Kennedy, G Staniforth.
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
Head to head: (03-04) (CC q-f) Glasgow Warriors 18 Munster 14; (CL) Munster 26 Glasgow Warriors 10; Glasgow Warriors 12 Munster 37. (04-05) Glasgow Warriors 26 Munster 28; Munster 25 Glasgow Warriors 19. (05-06) Glasgow Warriors 32 Munster 10.
Leading try scorers: Munster - Anthony Horgan, Anthony Foley 3 each. Warriors - Rory Lamont 4.
Leading scorers: Munster - Ronan O'Gara 71. Warriors - Dan Parks 73.
Forecast: Munster to win.Munster v Glasgow
Thomond Park, today, 3.30
On TV: Setanta Sports
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