European Cup Pool Four/ Munster v Cardiff (Thomond Park, 5.30 On TV: Sky Sports 1):Munster have traditionally demonstrated a fine appreciation of history so they'll be aware that they hover on the cusp of eclipsing another Heineken European Cup record. They are poised on 11 successive victories in Europe, a feat shared with the Leicester Tigers. Alone Munster will stand by tonight.
They'll beat Cardiff. This is not meant as a dismissal of the Welsh or their ability as a team; it is merely recognition of Munster's unshakable professionalism and resolve to improve from what the players considered an unacceptable performance last week at the Arms Park.
The champions were delighted to win but aspects of the display grated; not very Munster-like.
Cardiff are the only side to beat Munster in Munster in the European Cup; they did so in October 1997 at Musgrave Park.
And in their Thomond Park citadel, Munster remain unbeaten in the competition, a run of 30 victories of which they are rightfully proud. Far from being a millstone, the responsibility engendered by that statistic is something the players embrace.
As coach Declan Kidney said, "The players use that to energise themselves."
Captain Paul O'Connell elaborated "Our home record is something we are very aware of and we talk about it before matches. None of us wants to be in the team that finally loses a Heineken Cup tie at the ground.
"Of course we know it is going to happen some time as records are merely there to be broken. It puts pressure on us and there is certainly a bit of a fear factor involved. But it gives us a perverse kind of motivation. It is a great situation to be in with three wins from three but we are still a long way off our best."
Kidney concurs but adds that the players' knack of retaining composure and grinding out victories is a significant, positive aspect of their campaign.
The rehabilitation from injury of John Kelly and Barry Murphy sees them parachuted back into the starting line-up, Tomás O'Leary and Lifeimi Mafi dropping to the replacements, the latter to the exclusion of Christian Cullen.
There is one further alteration, the 21-year-old former Ireland Schools and under-21 international Darragh Hurley named at loosehead prop. He takes over from Federico Pucciariello, who took ill after last week's match and had to stay an extra night in Cardiff. He is well enough to sit on the bench.
Hurley did well when given game time at the Arms Park, not the first occasion he's packed down against Cardiff this season.
He started in the Magners League game against the Blues and proved he could handle the responsibility, which will have been a factor in his elevation for today's game.
Cardiff coach Dai Young was magnanimous in defeat last week but will have his team fired up for their tilt at the history books: there will only ever be one first team to beat Munster at Thomond Park.
Young has elected to make four changes to the team that lost 22-12. Thom Evans has been selected on the right wing, with Tom Shanklin moving to partner Jamie Robinson in the centre.
Marc Stcherbina drops to the bench, where he is joined by Nick Robinson, the latter relinquishing the number 10 jersey to Nick MacLeod.
John Yapp starts in the front row as Gethin Jenkins damaged a calf at the Arms Park and was not considered for selection.
Bradley Davies is named in the second row after James Goode picked up an ankle injury in Sunday's match, a setback that will keep him sidelined for 14 days.
Kidney, meanwhile, will remind his charges of the need for improved discipline, a weakness that troubled them in the opening half hour last Sunday.They transgressed too often and gave Cardiff's fullback Ben Blair too many opportunities, not all of which were taken.
Munster boast a knack of being able to find answers to questions posed by visiting teams to Limerick, and style is rarely an issue.
Cardiff will make it intensely physical and confrontational up front, looking to involve their back row of Scott Morgan, Martyn Williams and captain and number eight Xavier Rush.
In the first match Cardiff's punting was rank and with nothing to lose they'll probably give the ball some air tonight.
Munster played a pared-down version of their patterns, content to commandeer field position and squeeze the opposition up front in the pursuit of penalties.
It worked but it won't necessarily be a template for this evening's match.
Cardiff will demand the respect of the home side, so victory will be the primary goal. It won't be about history or bonus points when O'Connell leads his team on to the pitch.
MUNSTER: S Payne; J Kelly, B Murphy, T Halstead, I Dowling; R O'Gara, P Stringer; D Hurley, F Sheahan, J Hayes; P O'Connell (capt), D O'Callaghan; A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: F Pucciariello, A Kyriacou, C Wyatt, J O'Sullivan, T O'Leary, J Manning, L Mafi.
CARDIFF: B Blair; T James, J Robinson, T Shanklin, C Czekaj; N MacLeod, M Phillips; J Yapp, R Thomas, T Filise; B Davies, D Jones; S Morgan, M Williams, X Rush (capt). Replacements: G Powell, G Williams, M Lewis, B White, W Evans, N Robinson, M Stcherbina.
Referee: Joël Jutge(France).
Leading points scorers: Munster- Ronan O'Gara 39. Cardiff- Ben Blair 27.
Leading try scorers: Munster- Donncha O'Callaghan 2. Cardiff- Chris Czekaj, Martyn Williams, Nick Robinson 1 each.
Verdict: Munster to win.
