Preview / Munster v Dragons: These are the matches coach Declan Kidney has hopefully prepared his squad for, the games he knew he was always going to have to face once the Six Nations Championship kicked in.
Of course the team look nothing like the side who triumphantly obliterated Sale last week in Thomond Park and although they may sink a little coming off the Sale high, they are sprinkled with enough weight and talent to hole Dragons under the waterline.
In addition there are a couple of long faces, players who know that their rightful place is Dublin's leafy suburb of Killiney with the rest of the Irish team.
Anthony Foley is in the side and must be smarting about his Irish match squad omission but most of the other places tell another tale. John Hayes, Marcus Horan and Jerry Flannery are not included, meaning a new frontrow for Munster this week with Frankie Roche, Denis Fogarty and Federico Pucciariello in. Paul O'Connell and Donncha O'Callaghan also leave a hole in the second row for Trevor Hogan and Mick O'Driscoll, while Denis Leamy and David Wallace are also on international duty, leaving Foley as the only pack survivor from last week. Stephen Keogh at blind side and Johnny O'Connor at openside fill the flanks around Foley.
The back line has a more familiar look with Trevor Halstead, or Gary Connolly, at inside centre and the impressive Barry Murphy, Ian Dowling and Shaun Payne forming the cutting edge. In midfield, scrumhalf Tomás O'Leary partners Paul Burke or Mossie Lawlor.
Munster have strung together a recent run of six wins out of their last seven matches in all competitions - the exception being the 23-25 reversal to Leinster at the RDS on New Year's Eve. Munster's only loss in their last 24 home games in all tournaments was 17-20 to Ulster at Musgrave Park also in December.
The two sides have already met twice this season in the European Cup with Munster winning on both occasions: 24-8 at Rodney Parade and 30-18 at Thomond Park.
This meeting could make it three in a row.
Musgrave Park, 5.30 On TV: Setanta Sports
MUNSTER: S Payne; I Dowling, B Murphy, G Connolly/T Halstead, A Horgan; M Lawlor/P Burke, T O'Leary; F Roche, D Fogarty, F Pucciariello, T Hogan, M O'Driscoll, S Keogh, J O'Connor, A Foley. Replacements: T Buckley, D Varley, D Ryan, A Kavanagh, M Prendergast, 21 - TBC, 22 - TBC.
DRAGONS: A Thomas; R Fussel, S Tuipulotu, C Sweeney, B Breeze; C Warlow, G Cooper; A Black, S Jones, R Thomas, B Griffiths, P Sidoli, J Ringer, J Forster, R Oakley. Replacements: A Brown, D Maddocks, G Robinson, A Hall, S Van Rensburg, J Bryant, A Walker.
Referee: Malcolm Changleng (SRU)
