So here it is then. Redemption day. Granted, beating Neath in the final of the "secondary" Celtic League wouldn't atone for a bitter defeat to Leinster in last year's inaugural final, much less two previous Heineken European Cup final defeats. Gerry Thornley reports
Munster v Neath, Cardiff, kick-off 2.45: On TV: TG4 and BBC 1
But it would, at least, expunge some of those memories, and most of all prove to Munster themselves that they can win finals.
All the more so as the most recent final setback occurred in this very same Millennium Stadium. Depending on the weather, and particularly the severity of the cold temperatures, the stadium roof may be closed before or during the game.
Two European Cup final defeats to Northampton and Leicester, and a Celtic League final defeat to Leinster. The wounds are still fairly fresh.
All bar Mossie Lawlor, Donnacha O'Callaghan, Martin Cahill and Denis Leamy have played in at least one of those finals while, of the other 18, half a dozen have played in all three - John Kelly, Mike Mullins, Jason Holland, Ronan O'Gara, Mick Galwey and Anthony Foley.
True, it's easy to overlook Munster's three successive interpro titles, an historic feat made all the more memorable because those were the days when the interpros meant something. Chokers they ain't, but, even so, losing four finals out of four in four seasons frankly doesn't bear thinking about.
Nor can Munster realistically scale the near superhuman heights of a fortnight ago against Gloucester. For starters, the Thomond factor won't apply. About 5,000 tickets have been taken up by supporters from the Munster branch, and though you can never predict how much the expats will swell support, it's likely Neath fans will outnumber Munster's by about three to one in the anticipated 30,000 attendance.
Munster will surely not be as inspired again, and offsetting something of an anti-climactic reaction will actually be a test of their professionalism.
"These guys have been around a long while," says Gaffney. "They value their own performances, they know they owe it to themselves mainly, but they also owe it to who's been before them and who's going to come after them, and also to the supporters. But mainly they owe it to themselves.
"They want to go out and perform. We had a pretty low-key few days after the Gloucester game, the boys just basically had a good time on the Tuesday training session - which I think was necessary. But ever since the Thursday our minds have been focused on what we have to do."
Another curiously Irish concern - on all available formguides Munster are entitled to be favourites. Oh dear? That the finalists came through the same pool makes comparisons more valid. Each has conceded 13 tries en route to the final, but Munster have scored 34 to Neath's 20.
"They don't score many tries, but actually they have got quite a good attack. I've seen them do some very good things, and in the early part of the game at the Gnoll they really put us under some pressure.
"They've got some good attacking players: Jarvis, Moore, Williams, Durston and Tieuti at 12 and they dominated possession against us at the Gnoll."
Flattering or not, that 35-19 win at Neath reaffirms Munster's favouritism. Neath coach Lyn Jones yesterday repeated his view of that October meeting as a watershed in their season.
Jones had been a tad disrespectful of Munster prior to that match, warning Neath's supporters not to expect "Barbarian-style rugby" and that they had previously bored Edinburgh into submission.
But one senses Munster earned his respect that night.
Agreeing with Gaffney that it will be a dogfight, Jones said: "they're two very similar teams, strong up front and a very good kicking presence at 10, and each has lost a few finals in the last couple of years."
Gaffney has called aboard the fit again Rob Henderson to the Munster bench, giving them another weapon up their sleeves, while Jones admitted picking Brett Sinkinson above their semi-final man of the match Steve Tandy was a tough call, though the selection of the more experienced if injury prone openside over the more dynamic, bally-carrying Tandy perhaps signals a desire to disrupt Munster at the breakdown, as well as shoring up Lee Jarvis' suspect defence.
Jones has also opted for five forwards amongst his replacements. With only one player in the current Welsh squad, evergreen skipper Gareth Llewellyn, the team ethic of cash-strapped Neath adds up to more than the sum of their parts, with Jones widely regarded as the most innovative coach in Welsh rugby.
A real momentum team, with a mobile pack who flourish when on the front foot, the key for Munster will be to stop them in their tracks.
The feeling persists that if they also impose their high tempo, continuity game It may be tougher than people think. And the contest may be alive come the final quarter.
But later, if not sooner, Munster should pull through.
PATHS TO THE FINAL: Munster - 20-13 v Llanelli (a), 48-23 v Ebbw Vale (h), 28-21 v Edinburgh (a), 38-27 v Swansea (h), 17-26 v Ulster (a), 35-19 v Neath (a), 41-0 v Caerphilly, Q/F 33-3 v Connacht (h), S/F 42-10 v Ulster (h). Neath - 25-6 v Caerphilly (h), 20-16 v Swansea (a), 29-13 v Llanelli (h), 13-17 v Ulster (a), 34-7 v Ebbw Vale (h), 19-35 v Munster (h), 13-27 v Edinburgh (a), Q/F 13-12 v Pontypridd (a), S/F 32-10 v Cardiff (h).
LEADING POINTS SCORERS: Munster - Ronan O'Gara 69, Jeremy Staunton 63. Neath - Lee Jarvis 83.
LEADING TRY SCORERS: Munster - Mossie Lawlor 6, Mike Mullins 6, Alan Quinlan 3. Neath - Gareth Morris 4, Shane Williams 3.
BETTING (Paddy Powers): To lift trophy - Munster 4/11, Neath 2/1. Match odds - 11/5 Neath, 20/1 Draw, 2/5 Munster. Handicap odds (Neath +8pts) 10/11 Neath, 16/1 Draw, 10/11 Munster.
FORECAST: Munster to win.
In the event of a tie, the following criteria will be applied to decide the winners: a) The first team to score ("golden point") during extra-time that shall not exceed 10 minutes (five minutes each way). b) The team who has scored most tries in regular time (80 minutes) of the tied Celtic League final.
