John Kelly returns for his first game since Ireland's win over Australia five weeks ago as Munster inch nearer to a full-strength line-up for Saturday evening's Heineken European Cup match away to Viadana. David Wallace, Rob Henderson and Dominic Crotty are the only remaining notable absentees through injury.
Kelly regains his place on the wing at the expense of Mossie Lawlor, who has started in 10 of Munster's 11 games to date and is their leading try scorer this season with six. Munster coach Alan Gaffney admitted the decision to omit Lawlor was "a very difficult one, but in the circumstances with a player like John Kelly available I think we had to go with him."
Gaffney was full of praise for Lawlor who slips to the bench at the expense of Colm McMahon after the former Irish under-21 centre had solved what appeared would be a problem position for Munster in light of the injuries to Anthony Horgan and John O'Neill at the start of the season, hence the decision to sign Clinton Huppert from Wellington.
"Mossie has done tremendously well since coming into the side," admitted Gaffney. "He's our leading try scorer, scored six tries in seven Celtic League games and is so versatile. But we have a responsibility beyond the Munster set-up in that we must also think of the national side and John needs to get back playing."
Gaffney said that there was no chance of complacency in the side following last Friday's 64-0 win over Viadana. He reckoned that Calvisano's historic and stunning win over Neath last Saturday will constitute a timely reminder as to how incomparably stronger an Italian side can be on home soil, not to mention the example of Toulouse beating Ebbw Vale 108-16 at home four seasons ago before contriving to lose the return match 19-11.
"It did make us sit up but I can also say that the turnaround in the Toulouse/Ebbw Vale game of a few years back was also discussed among the squad. But I think we have a handle on what is required. Basically the target is to improve on last Friday's game and take it from there."
The only other changes are on the bench where James Blaney returns from illness to replace John Fogarty. A decision has yet to be made on whether Eddie Halvey or Denis Leamy will wear the number 20 jersey.
Meanwhile, Ulster have made just one enforced change to the side which beat Biarritz last Friday night for Saturday's return meeting away to the reigning French champions. Ryan Constable, concussed inside the first two minutes on Friday, is sidelined for a mandatory three weeks and is replaced by Adam Larkin, whose place on the bench goes to Jan Cunningham in the continuing absence of the injured Shane Stewart.
Ulster's backline cover is pretty much down to the bare bones with Tyrone Howe and Paddy Wallace also longer-term casualties. One more injury would oblige coach Alan Solomons to promote recent UCC graduate David Spence, his third-choice scrumhalf, to the bench. "Why we can't register our whole squad on September 14th I don't understand," said a slightly exasperated Solomons.
Against that, the Ulster coach couldn't be happier with the health, fitness and form of his pack, all the more so given a stirring return to arms of Jeremy Davidson. "Last Friday was Jeremy's best game for Ulster since I've been here," said Solomons.
Solomons also revealed that David Humphreys contracted a bug before the game which laid him low during the interval. He was then confined to bed for three days after the game.
MUNSTER (v Viadana): J Staunton: J Kelly, M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan: R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes; P O'Connell, D O'Callghan; J Williams (capt), A Foley, A Quinlan. Replacements: J Blaney, S Kerr, M O'Driscoll, E Halvey/D Leamy, M Prendergast, K Keane, M Lawlor.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, A Larkin, J Bell, S Young; D Humphreys, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, M Sexton, R Kempson, G Longwell, J Davidson, W Brosnihan, A Ward (capt), N McMillen. Replacements: S Best, P Shields, M Blair, T McWhirter, K Campbell, J Cunningham, S Coulter.
