Depleted Munster to be given firm test

Munster v Border Reivers, Thomond Park (7.30), On TV: Setanta 7.00: This is a much bigger game than it might look on paper for the European champions. On the face of it, the Borders wouldn't appear the most imposing of visitors but that only makes this first home game of the campaign a truer test of Munster's core Magners Celtic League support, and Declan Kidney's under-strength team may need more encouragement than at first appears.

Despite a gamey effort in Cardiff last week, when half the pack were making their first competitive starts, this will also be an acid test of their strength-in-depth which, after the summer departure of Trevor Hogan and Stephen Keogh, doesn't look as proven as it was last year.

Despite hopes that Anthony Foley might be allowed play, their captain is among the 13 summer tourists to be held back, with the possibility that he, Anthony Horgan and Alan Quinlan will be released next week. To further stretch their resources, Christian Cullen (calf) and Ian Dowling (leg) picked up minor knocks in Cardiff last week and join Trevor Halstead, Denis Fogarty and Jerry Flannery on the injured list.

Missing 17 players, Kidney will give the young Garryowen speedster Ciarán O'Boyle a competitive debut provided he overcomes a knock sustained playing for the Munster A against their Leinster counterparts on Wednesday. If not, then Tom Gleeson will make his competitive debut.

The ever dependable Shaun Payne moves to fullback with Mossy Lawlor on the left wing, while a revamped backrow sees Aussie Tim McGann make his debut at openside with John O'Sullivan switching to blindside in place of Ross Noonan.

It's true that only one Scottish team has ever won at Thomond Park, namely Glasgow last season, and that Munster have beaten Borders in all previous half dozen head-to-heads, racking up 23 tries to 10 in the process.

Nonetheless, perhaps the most relevant of those encounters was the seasonal opener against the Borders in Thomond Park at the beginning of September year.

On that night, the Borders played the brighter rugby, with captain Chris Cusiter often the catalyst. A Munster team far closer to full-strength than they will be tonight (only Payne, John Kelly and Federico Pucciariello survive) were kept tryless and struggled to subdue their unfancied visitors by 9-7.

Grego Townsend has been dropped to the bench tonight to make way for 23-year-old full debutant Steve Jones. The former Scotland under-21 international and rugby league player came on during the defeat at home to Connacht last Friday. The 21-year-old Melrose and academy winger Mark Robertson also makes his competitive debut.

Coach Steve Bates said: "The squad have all played well during the summer and we are still unsure about one or two players' positions in the back division so I think the changes made from last week reflect that." The memory of their defeat last week to Connacht won't go away, nor their heavy pre-season defeat to Ulster.

Yet, without the cohesion or experience up front to make their rolling maul their go-to source of go-forward ball, Munster will have to work hard for this one.

MUNSTER: S Payne; C O'Boyle/T Gleeson, J Kelly, J Downey, M Lawlor; J Manning, T O'Leary; D Hurley, F Sheahan, F Pucciariello, C Wyatt, D Ryan, J O'Sullivan, T McGann, J Coughlin. Replacements: T Ryan, A N Other, S O'Connor, B Cuttriss, G Hurley, E Hickey, T Gleeson/D Hurley.

BORDERS: C MacRae; G Law, N De Luca, B MacDougall, M Robertson; S Jones, C Cusiter; G Kerr, R Ford, B Douglas, O Palepoi, S Grimes, S Gray, K Brown, R Beattie. Replacements: S Scott, E Kalman, C Hamilton, J Dalziel, B McKerchar, G Townsend, A Miller.

Referee: James Jones (Wales).

The Statistics

Previous meetings: (03-04) Munster 29 Borders 21; Borders 10 Munster 18; (04-05) Munster 45 Borders 8; Borders 23 Munster 38; (05-06) Munster 9 Borders 7; Borders 25 Munster 41.

Leading try scorers: Munster: Tim Ryan 1. Borders: None.

Leading points scorers: Munster: Jeremy Manning 8. Borders: Calum MacRae 15.

Forecast: Munster to win.