With that Heinken Cup semi-final against Saracens looming large, Munster coach Declan Kidney has wrapped the bulk of his front-liners in cotton wool for the visit of the Osprey's tomorrow night.
Of the 15 players that took to the pitch against Gloucester, just four will start at Musgrave Park as Kidney leaves nothing to chance.
Behind the scrum, only Tomas O'Leary is risked allowing the likes of Shaun Payne, Brian Carney and Paul Warwick to deputise.
Up front, Paul O'Connell will continue to supply the leadership from the engine room alongside Mick O'Driscoll. Donncha Ryan and Niall Ronan come into a revamped back-row.
While Munster have chosen to rest most of their big guns for this weekend's clash, Osprey's coach Lyn Jones has opted for a strong side as the team looks to finish the season on a high.
Ospreys have kept faith with the back line that featured in last weekend's EDF Cup victory although, there are two changes to the front row with Cai Griffiths coming in as tighthead and Huw Bennett as hooker.
Filo Tiatia takes over the captaincy for the game, replacing Tyan Jones who is being rested this weekend.
Gavin Henson, Mike Phillips, Nikki Walker and Barry Williams are all unavailable for selection due to injuries.
"With five games remaining of the season, we are not looking down the table, we are concentrating on the teams currently above us. We are seven points behind the Scarlets and 12 points behind the Blues, but we have two games in hand on both of them, and we are still targeting finishing above both of those sides to finish the highest of the Welsh regions," said Ospreys head coach Lyn Jones.
Nonetheless, Jones predicted that it would be a tough game for the Welsh side tomorrow night.
"Munster may have one eye on their Heineken Cup semi-final next weekend, but it is fair to say that there is never an easy game against Munster as everyone who pulls on the red shirt understands their responsibility. It looks like being a tight affair, something of a battle between the two sides who consistently have the best defences so we know that we will have to be on top of our game," he said.
Munster: S Payne; B Carney, B Murphy, K Lewis, A Horgan; P Warwick, T O'Leary; F Pucciariello, F Sheahan, T Buckley; M O'Driscoll, P O'Connell; D Ryan, N Ronan, D Leamy. Replacements: J Flannery, M Horan, A Foley, D Wallace, P Stringer, J Manning, K Earls,
Ospreys: L Byrne: J Vaughton, S Parker, A Bishop, S Williams; J Hook, J Marshall; D Jones, H Bennett, C Griffiths; I Gough, I Evans; J Thomas, M Holah, F Tiatia. Replacements: E Shervington, A Millward, L Bateman, B Lewis, G Owen, J Spratt, A Brew
