Magners League team news:Munster coach Tony McGahan has been forced into eight changes from the side that lost to the Dragons at Rodney Parade ahead of Thursday's meeting with Scarlets at Musgrave Park (7.35pm).
With Ireland facing Scotland this weekend, neither Ronan O’Gara and Tony Buckley are available to the Australian this week, while Lifeimi Mafi is suspended having accumulated three yellow cards.
The good news is that Ian Dowling has recovered from the ankle injury he sustained in Edinburgh and will start on the left wing, outside a central pairing of Jean De Villiers and Tom Gleeson.
Paul Warwick moves from fullback to outhalf in place of O’Gara, affording Scott Deasy the chance to ear the number 15 jersey. Doug Howlett will start on the right wing and Peter Stringer will provide the service from the back of the scrum.
There is a welcome return to the front eight for backrow Niall Ronan, while in the frontrow Damien Varley replaces hooker Denis Fogarty and Julien Brugnaut is in for Buckley.
Lock Mick O’Driscoll captains the side, while Dave Ryan returns to the bench having been sidelined after a shoulder operation.
Munster, who are fifth and four points off leaders Leinster, can ill afford another slip-up this week.
Munster (v Scarlets):S Deasy; D Howlett, T Gleeson, J de Villiers, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; M Horan, D Varley, J Brugnaut; M O'Driscoll capt, B Holland; N Williams, N Ronan, J Coughlan. Replacements:D Fogarty, D Ryan, A Quinlan, T O'Donnell, D Williams, J Manning, D Hurley.