Celtic League/Border Reivers v Munster, Netherdale, 7.30: Declan Kidney has made eight changes in personnel and a positional switch from the side that beat Leinster at Lansdowne Road last Sunday for tonight's Celtic League game in Scotland. John O'Sullivan reports

The major talking point outside of the players rested is a first start after over a year on the sidelines for former All Blacks fullback Christian Cullen.

The New Zealander is finally at the end of a long rehabilitation period following shoulder surgery and his return is a fillip not just for this match but the upcoming Heineken European Cup final against Biarritz at the Millennium Stadium.

There was further good news in Mike Mullins confirming his fitness and returning to the midfield alongside Trevor Halstead, his first start since suffering a pre-season injury.

Given the absence of John Kelly, Rob Henderson and Tomás O'Leary it solves one selection conundrum for the Munster coach. Kidney has elected to rest his first-choice halfback combination with Ronan O'Gara dropping to the bench and Peter Stringer not included in the match squad.

Jeremy Manning and Mike Prendergast deputise with Leicester-bound scrumhalf Frank Murphy on the bench. John Hayes will start among the replacements, as will Jerry Flannery, so Frankie Roche and Denis Fogarty are handed starting roles. Freddie Pucciariello switches to tighthead to accommodate Roche.

Paul O'Connell and Denis Leamy stand down to be replaced by Mick O'Driscoll and Stephen Keogh. Trevor Hogan, John O'Sullivan and Paul Devlin are among the replacements. It is not as if Kidney is treating this match lightly, far from it as he is aware of the importance of victory.

The IRFU's decision to use the finishing position of the Irish provinces in the Celtic League to decide on seeding for next year's European Cup makes the final standings hugely relevant. Munster trail Ulster and Leinster, with a game in hand on the latter.

Despite the significant alterations to the starting line-up, Kidney has been able to call upon high-quality replacements: there is also the Munster ethos and the significance of the red jersey. Cullen and Mullins are bound to be a little ring rusty and will be the better for the outing, while Manning will benefit from the responsibility.

O'Driscoll's form has been excellent all season while Keogh will want to guarantee his last few weeks in a Munster jersey are memorable.

For Roche and Fogarty this represents a chance to remind the Munster management they can handle more than occasional responsibility.

The Borders have lost their last three matches since beating Glasgow but as they showed against Leinster when they went down 35-34 they are dangerous opponents. One statistic Munster will take heart from is the home team have won only one of their last nine meetings with Irish teams: that was against Connacht.

In keeping with all the Scottish teams, they play an athletic touchline to touchline game, orchestrated by Gregor Townsend at outhalf and with two powerful wings in Simon Danielli and six-try Nikki Walker. The team will be captained by Scottish tighthead prop Bruce Douglas.

Borders coach Steve Bates said: "We are very much looking forward to taking on European Cup finalists Munster. It doesn't get much tougher than this."

Munster's rearranged game with the Llanelli Scarlets has been confirmed for Tuesday, May 11th at Stradey Park, 11 days before the Irish province play that European final against Biarritz. Indeed they will be beaten to the Millennium Stadium by Leinster, the team they dispatched in the semi-finals of the aforementioned tournament.

Cardiff Blues will host Leinster at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday, May 16th (6.10pm). The change of time and venue is due to the switch of the English FA Cup final the previous day, between Liverpool and West Ham, to Cardiff.

A final rescheduled match in the Celtic League will see the Scarlets honour the final outstanding fixture, against Ulster, on Friday, May 19th at Stradey Park (7.10pm).

Of interest to Munster fans is the fact that England's Chris White seems certain to referee the European Cup final, having done so twice in the past, in 2003 (he limped off injured after 16 minutes to be replaced by Tony Spreadbury) and 2005.

BORDER REIVERS: S Moffat; S Danielli, B MacDougall, C MacRae, N Walker; G Townsend, B McKerchar; T McGee, S Scott, B Douglas (capt); O Palepoi, S MacLeod; J Dalziel, S Gray, K Brown. Replacements: (from) W Kay, P Thomson, C Stewart, S Sititi, J Weston, A Miller, J King, L Kibble.

MUNSTER: C Cullen; A Horgan, M Mullins, T Halstead, I Dowling; J Manning, M Prendergast; F Roche, D Fogarty, F Pucciariello; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; S Keogh, D Wallace, A Foley (capt). Replacements: J Hayes, J Flannery, T Hogan, J O'Sullivan, F Murphy, R O'Gara, P Devlin.

Referee: T Hayes (Wales).

Leading points scorers: Border Reivers - Charlie Hore 116; Munster - Ronan O'Gara 71.

Leading try scorers: Border Reivers - Nikki Walker 6; Munster - Anthony Horgan, John Kelly, Federico Pucciariello 4 each.

Verdict: Munster to win.