Magners League:Donncha O'Callaghan has been afforded a rest by Munster coach Tony McGahan ahead of the Magners League meeting with Connacht at Thomond Park on Saturday.

The Ireland lock is the only absentee from the squad that made short work of the Ospreys in the Heineken cup quarter-final last weekend.

Donnacha Ryan and Mick O’Driscoll are available as cover for the Grand Slam-winner, while the uncapped duo of hooker Michael Essex and number eight Nick Williams is also included.

The league leaders are seven points ahead of defending champions Leinster, who play Edinburgh on Friday evening.

Kick-off on Saturday is at 7.30pm.

Munster: D Hurley, P Warwick; D Howlett, K Earls, L Mafi, B Murphy, I Dowling; R O'Gara, P Stringer, T O'Leary; T Buckley, M Horan, J Hayes, M Essex, J Flannery, D Fogarty, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, P O'Connell, D Ryan, A Quinlan, D Wallace, N Ronan, D Leamy, N Williams.