Flannery back in action

He is one of four international players making a return to Magners League action for this top of the table clash with Leinster tomorrow night. However, two players named in the extended squad on Tuesday, captain Paul O'Connell and Keith Earls have both been forced to withdraw, both suffering from groin strain.

In relation to their availability for the Heineken Cup game in a week's time team manager Shaun Payne said that neither had been ruled out at this stage.

18 of Friday's match day 22 were involved when the sides last met in the RDS back in October. From that game, that Leinster won 30-0, Denis Leamy and Denis Hurley are now joined on the injury list by O'Connell and Earls.

In the absence of O'Connell, Munster will be led by Ronan O'Gara who is set to win his 180th Munster cap.

Munster: P Warwick; D Howlett, L Mafi, J de Villiers, I Dowling; R O'Gara capt, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Wallace. Replacements: D Fogarty, T Buckley, N Williams, J Coughlan, P Stringer, T Gleeson, S Deasy.