Ospreys v Munster: Teams

Ospreys coach Sean Holley is relishing the chance to go head-to-head with Munster in Friday's top-of-the-table clash.

The Ospreys currently head the table by a point from the reigning Heineken Cup champions - and although Munster have stuttered recently, Holley has no doubt they will come out all guns blazing.

"Friday night is another big game and another big occasion that we are looking forward to," Holley said.

"It is first v second in the Magners League, the European champions at the Liberty Stadium, and it doesn't get any bigger than that. Munster's pedigree speaks for itself and we are well aware of the threat that they will pose. Given their disappointing results over Christmas they will no doubt be looking to put the record straight.

"We have a good record against Munster, and we want to keep that record intact this weekend.

"It is about building on the momentum we have generated during recent weeks, improving in certain areas to take performance levels to where we want them to be."

Return

Holley is able to name IRB player of the year Shane Williams in his side after the winger recovered from injury, while Huw Bennett and Lyndon Bateman return to the bench.

Munster will be boosted by news Paul O'Connell, Denis Leamy and Tomas O'Leary return for the crunch tie after missing the shock defeat to Ulster through injury.

David Wallace and Ian Dowling also return to the starting XV after sitting out the Ulster loss.

However Marcus Horan, Keith Earls, Tony Buckley and Niall Ronan are all missing after struggling with a stomach bug.

Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Jonny Vaughton, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Filo Tiatia , 7 Steve Tandy, 6 Tom Smith, 5 Jonathan Thomas, 4 Alun-wyn Jones, 3 Cai Griffiths, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Lyndon Bateman, 19 Marty Holah, 20 Rhys Webb, 21 Dan Biggar, 22 Kristian Phillips

Munster: 15 D Hurley, 14 D Howlett, 13 B Murphy, 12 L Mafi, 11 I Dowling, 10 P Warwick, 9 T O'Leary, 1 F Pucciariello, 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: 16 D Fogarty, 17 T Ryan, 18 M O'Driscoll, 19 J O'Sullivan, 20 P Stringer, 21 C Doyle, 22 T Gleeson.