While Ulster can still qualify for the play-offs with a bonus point win at Munster, they would also need Glasgow and Scarlets to get nothing from their ties against Connacht and Cardiff.

McLaughlin has made a raft of changes to the Heineken Cup finalists with Academy prospects Iain Henderson and Chris Cochrane coming in.

In the backs, Paul Marshall and centres Ian Whitten and Nevin Spence come in and Adam D'Arcy lines up at full-back.

Lewis Stevenson replaces Johann Muller at lock alongside Dan Tuohy, while Robbie Diack joins the the back row.

Up front, Nigel Brady will captain the side from hooker, where he is joined by Paddy McAllister and McLaughlin has challenged his players to give him some selection headaches.

"Munster are always tough opponents, particularly at home," he said.

"But the Heineken Cup quarter-final win down there proved that we can do it. We set the bar very high that day and I expect the boys to go out and defend our reputation.

"Iain [Henderson] had a great Six Nations campaign for Ireland U20s and it's exciting for us to be able to have a look at him and see how he does.

"Chris [Cochrane] shone for us at the RDS [where he scored a try against Leinster] in December and we are looking forward to seeing him too.

"It will be great experience for them and very important for their development.

"We are reliant on other results but we will approach the game trying to do our job and we will wait to hear other results coming through.

"Obviously the ideal outcome is to get a semi-final spot but we realise it's unlikely."

Meanwhile, Munster coach Tony McGahan, in charge for his last game at Thomond Park Stadium with Rob Penney set to take over, has made two changes to the starting XV.

Ivan Dineen gets his chance in place of Keith Earls and in the front row Wian du Preez replaces Dave Kilcoyne.

Munster can secure a trip to the Liberty Stadium a week from now for a semi-final against Ospreys with a win and chief executive Garret Fitzgerald has dismissed talk that his club are in transition.

"People have said to me 'you lack ambition' and 'you're third province and you could be fourth province,' but the way I answer is that the Heineken Cup final is on in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin next year and that's where we want to be," he added.

"We were going through a transition when we won the league last season and when we won (the Heineken Cup) in 2008, so I don't think you can use that as an excuse."

At Thomond Park, 7.30pm.
Referee: Alain Rolland (IRFU, 51st competition game)
Assistant Referees: Dudley Phillips, D Connolly (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Tom McCormack (IRFU)
TMO: Alan Rogan (IRFU)

Live on RTE Sport and BBC NI