Munster have ground for hope

Munster v Gwent Dragons: With their two international players, Anthony Horgan and Rob Henderson, ruled out on Wednesday, Munster's Celtic League clash with Gwent Dragons in Thomond Park is looking a little more fraught given the beating the team took against Ulster in Ravenhill last time out.

However, they welcome back international hooker Frankie Sheahan, who has been competitively inactive over the last couple of weeks, while Ireland's Marcus Horan also comes in at loosehead prop, having been out with a back injury.

Henderson injured a foot against Ulster, while Horgan injured ribs in the same game. Although Donncha O'Callaghan was called up to the national training squad for this week's get-together, he was not made available to Munster coach Alan Gaffney. As a result, David Pusey and Tom Hayes again operate in the second row.

Munster bring in Conrad O'Sullivan at outhalf and Frank Murphy at scrumhalf, who came on late against Ulster and sniped a cheeky try. Eoin Reddan takes to the bench, and last week's number 10, Jason Holland, moves to inside centre.

Gwent Dragons might take some pride from Mike Ruddock's promotion to the position of Welsh coach, but Munster are looking for a performance that might shake off last week's rout. Gwent are third in the table with 44 points to Munster's 36 points.

Losing to Glasgow Rugby 48-20 last week will make the Dragons a little more tentative travelling to Thomond Park. And who can bet against Munster in Limerick?

MUNSTER: C Cullen; S Payne, J Kelly, J Holland, M Lawlor; C O'Sullivan, F Murphy; M Horan, F Sheahan, G McIlwham, D Pusey, T Hayes, S Keogh, D Wallace, J Williams (capt). Replacements: J Flannery, F Roche, E Halvey, P Malone, E Reddan, JJ Huges/K Matthews, M McPhail.

GWENT DRAGONS: (TBA)