Munster go for eight straight

Celtic League Munster v Borders, Musgrave Park, 6.45 Alan Gaffney's Munster should make it eight successive victories when they take on an injury ravaged Borders. The Munster Branch have brought forward the kick-off in something of an entente cordial with Cork City soccer club, who play a decisive National League match down the road.

Mike Mullins, Alan Quinlan and Eoin Reddan all return to Munster colours, while former Ireland Under-21 international Paul Devlin gets his first start. Shaun Payne moves to full back as the prolific Christian Cullen (eight tries) is rested after 12 straight games.

Quinlan's return to fitness offsets the loss of Anthony Foley, Denis Leamy and David Wallace, while Reddan gets a chance in place Mike Prendergast.

Mullins joins Henderson in the centre for his first game since early October.

Borders have recorded just two victories in all competitions since last March, a brace of wins home and away against Portuguese amateurs AA Coimbra in the European Challenge Cup last month. They did run Ulster to a point (20-19) last week, but the team that props up the Celtic League table have suffered some serious injury setbacks in the interim.

Full back Gareth Morton suffered a fracture to his nose in the Ulster match and was unable to finish the game. He will need surgery at some point to straighten the bone, but Borders may delay that and he has an outside chance of playing this evening.

Centre Charlie Hore has a bruised leg and is considered doubtful. Stephen Cranston, Simon Danielli, Nikki Walker, Ally Dickson and Jon Steel are all out.

Scrumhalf Drew Moore is another who seems set to miss the match with a shoulder injury.

Completing the extensive queue for the treatment table are Ian Berthinussen (rib) and All Warnock (elbow).

Coach Steve Bates in reflecting on last week's game admitted: "We gave them (Ulster) two soft tries yet only lost to them by one point. The injuries were a blow to us but what really cost us in the game were the two yellow cards."

MUNSTER: S Payne; M Lawler, M Mullins, R Henderson, P Devlin; P Burke, E Reddan; F Roche, J Blaney, G McIlwham; T Hogan, T Bowman; S Keogh, J Williams, A Quinlan. Replacements: M Storey, D Fogarty, T Hayes, J O'Connor, M Prendergast, J Holland, M McPhail.

Referee: Neil Ballard (WRU).

Head to head (recent meetings): February 2004 (CL) at Musgrave Park: Munster 29 Borders 21. May 2004 (CL) at Netherdale: Borders 10 Munster 18.

Leading points scorers: Munster - Paul Burke 65. The Borders - Charlie Hore 53.

Verdict: Munster.