Cardiff v Munster: Teams

Cardiff Blues have selected four British and Irish Lions for their penultimate home fixture of the season against Munster at the Arms Park on Sunday.

The Welsh outfit are looking to cement their position in next season's Heineken Cup with victory over the Magners League champions, a feat that director of rugby Dai Young believes the visitors fully deserve.

"I would like to offer my congratulations to Munster on winning the Magners League," said Young.

"The manner in which they won it this season shows that they are a quality outfit and have strength throughout their squad.

"We have seen their quality in the Heineken Cup over recent seasons and it is no surprise to me that they performed so well in the league this year.

"Like ourselves, they have a handful of Lions and were knocked out of the Heineken Cup in the semi-final stage.

O'Connell absent

"I do not know what kind of team they will be fielding but I am sure that we will have to be at our best to get the win."

Munster will be without captain Paul O'Connell after it was decided the long trip to Wales would not be ideal for his back problem.

"It's nothing serious, Paul has a busy summer ahead of him and we felt it just wasn't in his best interests to play this weekend," said team manager Shaun Payne.

"However, we would be confident he will be involved in the final game of the season against the Ospreys next week."

Munster include thirteen players who were involved last weekend at Croke Park for a game that this time last week was seen as a potential dry run for the Heineken Cup final until the intervention of Leinster and the Leicester.

Also included in the starting line-up is winger Brian Carney and fly-half Jeremy Manning while there is an all-Limerick centre partnership in Barry Murphy and Keith Earls, with Lifeimi Mafi ruled out due to suspension.

Up front Nick Williams takes over from Alan Quinlan in the back row, where Niall Ronan is also in in place of David Wallace.

Cardiff Blues: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Richard Mustoe, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Chris Czekaj, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Darren Allinson, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Sam Warburton, 5 Scott Morgan, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Gary Powell, 2 Gareth Williams, 1 John Yapp.
Replacements: 16 Sam Hobbs, 17 T. Rhys Thomas, 18 Deiniol Jones, 19 Ben White, 20 Richie Rees, 21 Ceri Sweeney, 22 Tom James.

Munster: 15 Denis Hurley, 14 Brian Carney, 13 Barry Murphy, 12 Keith Earls, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Jeremy Manning, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Denis Leamy, 7 Niall Ronan, 6 Nick Williams, 5 Mick O'Driscoll (capt), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Denis Fogarty, 1 Federico Pucciariello.
Replacements:16 Mike Essex, 17 Tony Buckley, 18 James Coughlan, 19 Dave Foley, 20 Conor Murray, 21 Paul Warwick, 22 Kieran Lewis.