PAUL O’CONNELL has been named in Munster’s 28-man squad for the return fixture against the Ospreys this weekend, despite his disciplinary hearing which will take place in Dublin today.

Head coach Tony McGahan gave no indication yesterday as to whether his captain and talisman would be replaced by another player if, as expected, he cops a mid-range ban for his sending off last Sunday.

McGahan was also tight-lipped on the issue of comments made by Ospreys assistant coach Jonathan Thomas last weekend, when he reminded the post-match press corps that Gavin Henson had received a 10-week ban for a similar offence five years ago.

Charges were also made against the Munster scrum in an apparent attempt to influence proceedings ahead of Saturday’s encounter.

“We’ll go about our business and do our talking on the field and let our actions speak there,” said McGahan.

“From my end there’s definitely no purpose served in trying to influence and have cuts off individuals with regard to the game.”

Munster trained in Cork yesterday, their first squad session of the week following the rigours of last weekend.

“It’s just a short week,” explained McGahan. “We played Sunday so we really need to make sure we’ve got proper recovery policies in place and then we’re travelling again on Friday.

“At this stage of the season the players have played a lot of rugby so it’s really just about knowing what we need to do. It was a physical game and it will be another physical game on Saturday.”

One major talking point ahead of this week’s encounter is the nomination of Roman Poite as match referee.

Poite was the man in charge for Munster’s game against the All Blacks two seasons ago, during which he was barracked consistently for his supposedly one-eyed approach.

He was also the referee who controversially sent Paul O’Connell to the bin against Northampton in last season’s quarter-final, a decision he’ll not have to worry about making this time around, most likely.

Munster have at times had an acrimonious relationship with Gallic whistle blowers, though McGahan appeared unconcerned with the appointment of Poite.

He did, however, express a hope that the game would not be remembered for the referee’s involvement alone.

“Any referee’s always going to play a part in the game,” he said. “You just hope they don’t play a major part. Everyone remembers games that have gone extremely well and when the referee’s been a very minor part of that. We hope that’s the case this weekend.”

In terms of the match itself, McGahan said he was expecting another 80 minutes-plus of anxiety, just as it was in Limerick four days ago when Munster edged home 22-16.

Of all the twists and turns last weekend, he drew attention to one particular incident when James Coughlan raced back to deny Tommy Bowe from crossing the line, and suggested that moments like these shape the course of games, and even seasons.

“It’s the same every year, you don’t really know in particular games when those moments are, only when they’re gone,” he said.

“I remember back in 07/08 when we played Clermont away and Rua Tipoki held up Elvis Vermeulen over the line in the 58th minute.

“They score then and we don’t get the bonus point, we don’t go through and we don’t get to win the Heineken Cup.

“So moments like that stand out; that one particular effort or mistake can certainly derail the season.

“You don’t know when they’re going to come, you’ve got to approach every one as if it’s a championship action. So we need to make sure we’ve got that hunger and desire on Saturday and I’m sure we will.”

Meanwhile, there were no further updates on the issue of player contracts, or more specifically the matter of Paul Warwick’s future at the club, though McGahan said the situation would be clarified next week.

MUNSTER SQUAD (v Ospreys):W du Preez, D Varley, M Sherry, D Hurley, J Hayes, T Buckley, D Ryan, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, J Coughlan, D Wallace, A Quinlan, N Ronan, D Leamy, T O'Leary, P Stringer, R O'Gara, P Warwick, J Murphy, L Mafi, T Gleeson, S Deasy, D Hurley, S Tuitupou, K Earls, D Howlett.