Munster v Ospreys: Teams

Munster head coach Tony McGahan has made one change from the side which beat Leinster for the visit of Ospreys to Thomond Park.

Denis Leamy returns to the back row for the Heineken Cup clash, meaning the unfortunate Niall Ronan drops to the bench.

The switch also means that David Wallace returns to his more familiar openside flanker role in the defending champions' pack.

Ronan O'Gara, who became the first man to break the 1,000 points barrier in Heineken Cup rugby this season, skipper Paul O'Connell, and Doug Howlett have all overcome injury scares to make the starting XV.

Injury problems

In constrast, the Ospreys have a number of key players sidelined for the tricky knock-out tie on Irish soil.

Full-back Lee Byrne failed a late fitness test on a ligament injury so Tommy Bowe will face many of his Ireland team-mates in the number 15 jersey.

Wales trio Gavin Henson, Jonathan Thomas and Duncan Jones, as well as Scotland wing Nikki Walker, are also absent through injury.

British and Irish Lions boss Ian McGeechan is likely to cast a keen eye over proceedings with several key battles likely to provide him with food for thought ahead of his squad selection for the tour to South Africa.

O'Connell will go up against Alan Wyn-Jones in the second row, with the pair tipped to start the series against the Springboks in the two lock positions.

Ospreys skipper Ryan Jones will also get the chance to press his claims against a powerful Munster back row, while the scrum-half contest between Thomas O'Leary and Mike Phillips promises to produce fireworks.

Munster: 15 P Warwick, 14 D Howlett, 13 K Earls, 12 L Mafi, 11 I Dowling; 10 R O'Gara, 9 T O'Leary; 1 M Horan, 2 J Flannery, 3 J Hayes, 4 D O'Callaghan, 5 P O'Connell (capt), 6 A Quinlan, 7 D Wallace, 8 D Leamy.
Replacements: D Fogarty, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, N Ronan, P Stringer, B Murphy, D Hurley.

Ospreys: 15 T Bowe, 14 J Vaughton, 13 S Parker, 12 A Bishop, 11 S Williams; 10 J Hook, 9 M Phillips; 1 P James, 2 H Bennett, 3 A Jones, 4 I Gough, 5 A-W Jones, 6 R Jones (capt), 7 M Holah, 8 F Tiatia.
Replacements: 16 R Hibbard, 17 C Griffiths, 18 F Levi, 19 A Lloyd, 20 T Smith, 21 J Nutbrown, 22 D Biggar.