Defending champions Munster will be without Tomas O'Leary when they open their campaign against Montauban at the newly refurbished Thomond Park this weekend. The scrum-half missed the recent win over Glasgow and remains sidelined with a leg injury.
In O'Leary's absence, Peter Stringer will again slot in alongside Ronan O'Gara with Mike Prendergast likely to provide cover on the bench.
Coach Tony McGahan brings back Tony Jerry Flannery and Rua Tipoki, both rested last weekend, to the front line while Keith Earls hugely impressive start to the season will see him earn his first European cap at full-back.
Earls sat out today's training session at the University of Limerick but his absence was seen as purely a precautionary mesasure.
McGahan is due to finalise his selection on Friday lunch-time ahead of that night's kick-off (8pm).
Munster Squad
Backs: K Earls, D Howlett, L Mafi, B Murphy, I Dowling, R Tipoki, R O'Gara, P Warwick, P Stringer, M Prendergast.
Forwards: M Horan, F Pucciariello J Flannery, D Fogarty J Hayes P O'Connell capt, D Ryan, D O'Callaghan, A Quinlan, J O'Sullivan, J Melck, D Wallace.
