Experience the key for Munster

Heineken Cup / Dragons v Munster: It'll be interesting to note if the Dragons can offer something more substantial than rhetoric or if it'll prove to be a case of a couple of players whistling past the graveyard.

Still, Ceri Sweeney's assertion, among others, that Ronan O'Gara and Peter Stringer are prone to buckle in the white heat of battle is a welcome change from the traditional pre-game platitudes.

A little "sledging" adds spice but they need to walk the walk too. And the indications so far in this season's European Cup are that the Dragons have spluttered in the main, only occasionally catching fire. And then their most notable feat of combustion came toward the end of a match in France, as Castres idled to the final whistle.

The Welsh side cut loose in those final throes before coming up slightly short, 29-24.

A more pertinent benchmark was the visit of Sale Sharks to Rodney Parade last time out. The Welsh side were shredded, coughing up a bonus point. Sale's five-point haul ups the ante for Munster today.

Not only must Munster win; they need to plunder four tries to keep pace with Sale.

Defeat for the Dragons would shunt them to the periphery of the contest for pool honours.

Among their difficulties is a veritable right-wing crisis. Hal Luscombe and leading try-scorer Gareth Wyatt are both injured so Gareth Chapman had to be recalled during the week from the Wales Sevens squad in South Africa.

Fullback Kevin Morgan is another absentee as is captain Jason Forster.

Their 6ft 9in Wales secondrow Luke Charteris may be on the bench, having recently returned from injury.

Even with depleted resources, the home side will certainly be looking to ask questions.

Dragons coach Paul Turner is highly regarded as an innovative, free spirit who likes his teams to keep the ball in hand. His mission statement for his team is simple and unambiguous.

"The forward battle will be of the utmost importance and the backs have to take any opportunity that presents itself."

Hardly rocket science but it does encapsulate the essence of the contest. Munster will seek to dominate up front, attack the supply line out of touch and force the concession of penalties.

Declan Kidney - at one time he was due to take the coaching reins at the Dragons - will have focused on his side's second half rather than opening 40 minutes in their last game, the Celtic League defeat by Ulster. He will have emphasised the need to start quickly.

There were a number concerns arising from that defeat: an occasionally brittle scrum that wasn't just down to Frankie Roche; a porous midfield defence; and a plethora of unforced errors.

John Kelly's return is a significant plus, not least for the intelligence he brings with and without the ball.

Munster need to be better at the set-piece basics. David Wallace was outstanding last week. His presence following that nasty leg injury is important.

Stringer and O'Gara ( nursing a cold but likely to play) will be aware of, though hardly fazed by, the Welsh sniping. The most apposite forum of reply is the pitch.

The visitors must look to crank up the pace and intensity that has served them so well in previous European campaigns, often after their mettle has been questioned.

The Dragons will be lively as befits a side led by the excellent Michael Owen and the atmosphere will be raucous for as long as the home side prosper. They're far from flaky up front.

Munster are well versed in the demands of playing away in Europe. Their experience should allow them to enter the Dragons' lair and douse the fire.

DRAGONS: A Thomas; G Chapman, S Tuipulotu, C Sweeney, R Fussell; C Warlow, G Cooper; A Black, S Jones, R Thomas; I Gough, P Sidoli; A Hall, J Ringer, M Owen (capt). Replacements: tbc.

MUNSTER: M Lawlor; J Kelly, G Connolly, T Halstead, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; D Leamy, D Wallace, A Foley (capt). Replacements: F Roche, D Fogarty, T Hogan, S Keogh, T O'Leary, J Manning/P Burke, B Murphy/A Pitout.

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)

Leading points scorers: Dragons - Craig Warlow 15. Munster - Ronan O'Gara 22.

Leading try scorers: Dragons - Gareth Wyatt 3. Munster - Frankie Sheahan, Jerry Flannery, Donncha O'Callaghan, Anthony Horgan, John Kelly, Trevor Halstead, one each.

Odds (courtesy of Paddy Power): Dragons 7/4 Draw 20/1 Munster 2/5. Handicap - Munster (-6pts) 10/11 Draw 20/1 Dragons 10/11.

Forecast: Munster to win.

Rodney Parade, 1.0, On TV: Sky, S4C