Munster v Northampton: Teams

Saints head to Munster on Friday knowing that a win will automatically qualify them for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

Although the Irish province have a formidable record on their home turf, Northampton coach Jim Mallinder says that his team is prepared to meet the challenge head on.

Phil Dowson comes in at openside for Neil Best, with Courtenay Lawes retained at blindside. Euan Murray plays at tighthead, displacing Brian Mujati.

"We had a massive game against Munster in October but we will need to play much better tomorrow night," Mallinder said.

"Many of their players are familiar faces from their exploits for Munster, Ireland and the Lions. But when the whistle blows it is just 15 men against 15, and if we play to our potential and stick to our game plan there is no reason why we can't win.

"The atmosphere in the squad has been very positive all week and there is plenty of belief that we can come home with the points."

Munster are unchanged from the team that brushed aside Treviso last Saturday, and their Ireland and Lions lock Donncha O'Callaghan is braced for a ferocious Saints challenge.

"This will be right up there with the toughest we've ever faced," he said. "They will fancy their chances. In fact, they make no bones about it that they are coming here to win. That is the confidence they have.

"So what we have to do is just get every aspect of our game right for every minute of the 80-odd that will be played. We are guaranteed nothing unless we win, and that is our mindset."

Munster: 15 P Warwick, 14 D Howlett, 13 K Earls, 12 J de Villiers, 11 D Hurley, 10 R O'Gara, 9 T O'Leary, 8 W du Preez, 7 D Fogarty, 6 J Hayes, 5 D O'Callaghan, 4 P O'Connell [capt], 3 A Quinlan, 2 N Ronan, 1 D Wallace
Replacements: 16 D Varley, 17 M Horan, 18 T Buckley, 19 D Ryan, 20 J Coughlan, 21 P Stringer, 22 L Mafi, 23 I Dowling.

Northampton: 15 B Foden, 14 C Ashton, 13 J Clarke, 12 J Downey, 11 B Reihana, 10 S Geraghty, 9 L Dickson, 8 R Wilson, 7 P Dowson, 6 C Lawes, 5 J Kruger, 4 I Fernandez Lobbe, 3 E Murray, 2 D Hartley (c), 1 S Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 B Sharman, 17 A Waller, 18 B Mujati, 19 C Day, 20 N Best, 21 A Dickens, 22 S Myler, 23 C Mayor.