Horgan and Quinlan Back In Munster XV

31 year old Horgan and 34 year old Quinlan bring a wealth of experience to the side having won over 300 caps between them for Munster and also back in the starting XV is Barry Murphy who teams up with Rua Tipoki in midfield.

Up front Frank Sheahan replaces Jerry Flannery and Quinlan's selection means Donnacha Ryan gets a well earned rest, forcing a reshuffle there with Justin Melck switching to openside and David Wallace at number 8.

On the bench Denis Fogarty, after a hugely impressive showing in the A side's victory over Leinster last weekend, provides the cover for Sheahan while Mick O'Driscoll, Niall Ronan and Kieran Lewis are other newcomers to the replacements from last weekend.

While a huge amount of public interest in the lead up to this game has centred on a return to the new majestic Thomond Park coach Tony McGahan refuses to get distracted from the task in hand. "It is of course going to be a marvellous occasion and it's a great tribute to those involved in the construction to bring it to this stage so quickly. But at the end of the day for us it's a Magners League game, there are points on offer and we really can't let ourselves approach this game in any different frame of mind than any other game. It's also our final run-out before the Heineken Cup kicks off and again an opportunity for selected players to put their hands up." he said.

With that in mind does McGahan have a clearer picture of what side will begin the defence of the European title, "Well you think you do and then you get performances as we did from players in the A game last week in Dublin and it sets you thinking again. But that's a good place to be and a credit to this squad. A credit to their hard work and their ambition. Of course there is a core to this side for Saturday that wont change for the game against the French but there are places still to be decided and opportunities there."

Munster: K Earls; D Howlett, B Murphy, R Tipoki, A Horgan, R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes; P O'Connell capt, D O'Callaghan, A Quinlan, J Melck, D Wallace. Replacements: D Fogarty, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, N Ronan, M Prendergast, P Warwick, K Lewis.