SUNDAY WEEK’S trip to Toulon may be at the forefront of many Munster minds but for coach Tony McGahan tomorrow’s home clash against Glasgow is the only concern.

The Australian coach will name his team at lunchtime today but gave no indication yesterday as to whether the starting XV would resemble his selection for next week’s do-or-die encounter at the Stade Mayol.

“You really need to focus on the competition that you’re in at any given stage,” he answered when asked about the suggestion of a dry-run against the travelling Scots.

“It’s really a lack of respect for the competition, for your opponents and for ourselves if you don’t approach it in that way.

“Ulster is done and our next game is Glasgow, and that’s our immediate thought. When Glasgow is finished, we’ll look forward to Toulon, and once that’s finished we’ll look forward to London Irish.

“It’s too tough a competition not to be doing that.”

McGahan was speaking at Thomond Park where Munster conducted an open training session in front of an estimated crowd of 500.

Paul O’Connell was busy signing autographs and posing for photos, but did not take any part in the session due to a heavy workload earlier in the week. He will return to training tomorrow, but is still unavailable for selection on account of his four-week suspension.

O’Connell will, of course, return in time for the match against Toulon, but McGahan wouldn’t be drawn on suggestions he should start that match irrespective of his lack of match fitness.

“That’s what they are, they are suggestions,” he said. “The coaching staff and Paul himself will understand where he’s at and we’ll make that decision after Saturday.

“Game time is indisputable when coming back from any injury. There is absolutely no other science that allows you to replicate game time.

“Paul will be short in that regard, but we hope that the work that he has got through in training will be some small substitute for that.”

McGahan also ruled out suggestions that Jerry Flannery had been rushed back from injury last week when he damaged his calf late on against Ulster.

“There was no problem at all,” said McGahan. “He played the 40 minutes for Shannon earlier that week. “He had been up at national camp on the Wednesday and Thursday, so it certainly had nothing to do with his previous injuries.

“It’s a different calf, a completely different injury. The only positive out of it is that it is his other calf and it just a straight tear. We expect him to be out for four to six weeks.”

Meanwhile, scrumhalf Peter Stringer revealed he will be “gutted” if he doesn’t get the nod to play against Toulon, and he intends to lay down a marker against Glasgow tomorrow, if given the opportunity.

“You’re gutted whenever a team sheet is named and you’re not on it,” said the 95-times capped Ireland international.

“Every player plays this game in the hope that they are going to get selected for the starting XV. Anyone who isn’t gutted shouldn’t be involved. Toulon is at the back of the mind at this stage. It’s there but it’s not our focus at the moment. We need to get this week right because we’ve had a number of guys chopping and changing over the last month or two.

“I’m looking at this weekend as an opportunity to stake my claim for a place. I’ve always said that I just want to be playing games, and so it’s roll on Saturday at this stage,” he added.

Munster have taken internal disciplinary action against an unspecified number of their players following incidents at the squad’s Christmas party in Kilkenny on December 20th. A Munster spokesperson said the matter was now closed.