CELTIC LEAGUE/Connacht v Munster: Despite making 10 changes from last week's feisty encounter with the Neath Swansea Ospreys, Munster still should have enough muscle and verve to leave Galway with a victory with captain Anthony Foley, John Hayes and Paul O'Connell returning from their week-long lay-offs.
Anyway, haven't Connacht and their Cork coach Michael Bradley already spurned two chances to scalp their old friends in recent encounters? Surely a third opportunity will not present itself.
They played out a miserable contest at the Sportsground last January, with a Ronan O'Gara penalty being the only score of the game.
In September, Connacht could feel hard done by as a Paul Burke strike in the 10th minute of injury time tied up the contest.
Burke is back at number 10 this afternoon as Alan Gaffney rests his international half-backs, O'Gara and Peter Stringer. Also, Rob Henderson, Mike Mullins, Alan Quinlan and Jim Williams are left out as the fringe brigade comes in.
The Munster faithful will not be panicking though, with Christian Cullen ever present at full back, while rugby-league convert Paul Devlin remains on the wing.
Connacht delayed naming a team until this morning but they are still thin on the ground due to several injuries - Matt Lacey and Darren Yapp being the most recent concerns.
Still, the motivation is there as they know victory here will keep them clear of Ulster in the Celtic League table.
It may mean nothing in terms of qualification for next season's Heineken European Cup but their final standing will send a clear message of Connacht's strength to the decision makers of the IRFU, with a decent Galway crowd also helping the cause.
One suspects the Munster pack will be able to tough this one out although it will be another cold day in the west with nowhere to hide.
"Not many people like coming to the Sportsground, especially over Christmas so we'll just have to see," said Bradley. "They've named a fairly strong side so they'll probably try and put us away early on but we expect an interesting game."
CONNACHT (from): C Keane, M Walls, T Tierney, E Elwood, P Warwick, J Downey, C McPhillips, T Robinson, D Yapp, N O'Brien, J Meagher, M Mostyn, A Clarke, R Hogan, B Jackman, J Fogarty, S Knoop, P Bracken, P Myburgh, C Short, A Farley, J Muldoon, M Swift, M Lacey, J O'Sullivan.
MUNSTER: C Cullen; P Devlin, J Storey, J Holland, A Horgan; P Burke, E Reddan; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; S Keogh, A Foley (capt), D Leamy. Replacements: M Storey, F Sheahan, T Hogan, A Quinlan, M Prendergast, S Payne, M Lawlor.
Referee: Simon McDowell (IRFU).
Recent Meetings: August 2001 (CL) at Thomond Park: Munster 40 Connacht 19; November 2002 (Celtic League Quarter-final) at Musgrave Park: Munster 33 Connacht 3; January 2004 (CL) at Dubarry Park: Connacht 0 Munster 3; May 2004 (CL) at Thomond Park: Munster 39 Connacht 10; September 2004 (CL) at Musgrave Park: Munster 27 Connacht 27.
Verdict: Munster.
