Squad News: Munster coach Declan Kidney has been able to name Christian Cullen and Ian Dowling plus a number of returning Irish internationals in his squad ahead of their Magners League fixture away to Glasgow this Friday night. While Kidney now has a strengthened and more experience squad, which includes internationals Anthony Horgan, Alan Quinlan, Mick O'Driscoll and Anthony Foley, he now has more difficult selection decisions ahead.
"Last weekend's performance was hugely encouraging and very important in the context of the whole season," said Kidney.
"It has certainly put it up to any returning player. I suppose we have to get the balance right now between being fair to lads who did so well and, given that it's a six day turnaround, freshening up the side for what will be a huge game.
"Remember we played them (Glasgow) twice last year and didn't manage to get a point so on their home patch they wont have any fears of us at all."
Meanwhile Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made one change to the squad which defeated Ospreys last weekend ahead of Friday's game against Llanelli Scarlets at the Sportsground.
Darren Yapp, who was on the bench last weekend, has been ruled out with a thigh injury and his place has been taken by John Hearty.
In Ulster, coach Mark McCall has made five changes to his starting line-up from that which defeated the Dragons at Rodney Parade last Saturday ahead of this weekend's Magners League game away to Edinburgh this Friday night.
The only change in the back-line sees the return of Isaac Boss at scrum-half while up front his Ireland colleagues Rory Best and Bryan Young return early from Ireland's pre-season conditioning programme to take their places in the front row.
Justin Harrison is ruled out with a calf injury so lock Matt McCullough makes his first Ulster start this season, partnering Tim Barker in the front row, after fully recovering from a car accident in the summer. Kieron Dawson is selected ahead of Neil McMillan in the back row.
Munster squad: Shaun Payne, Christian Cullen, Denis Hurley, Mossy Lawlor, Ian Dowling, Tom Gleeson, John Kelly, James Downey, Anthony Horgan, Eoghan Hickey, Jeremy Manning, Tomas O'Leary, Gerry Hurley, Denis Hurley. Federico Pucciariello, Darragh Hurley, Timmy Ryan, Frank Sheahan, Andy Kyriacou, Donnacha Ryan, Chris Wyatt, Mick O'Driscoll, Shane O'Connor, Alan Quinlan, James Coughlan, John O'Sullivan, Brendan Cuttriss, Tim McGann, Anthony Foley
Connacht squad: J Fogarty, B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop, M Diffley, M Swift, A Farley, D Gannon, B O'Connor, C Rigney, M Lacey, J Muldoon, M McHugh, D Riordan, J Hearty, C Keane, T Tierney, G Williams, P Warwick, K Matthews, C McPhillips, M Mostyn.
Ulster team: Bryn Cunningham, Mark Bartholomeusz, Paul Steinmetz, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Maxwell, David Humphreys, Isaac Boss, Justin Fitzpatrick, Rory Best (Captain), Bryan Young, Tim Barker, Matt McCullough, Stephen Ferris, Kieron Dawson, Roger Wilson
Replacements: Paul Shields, Tom Court, Lewis Stevenson, Neil McMillan, Kieran Campbell, Kevin Maggs, Scott Young
