Munster coach Declan Kidney has resisted any changes ahead of his side's final Heineken European Cup pool game against defending champions Wasps.

Munster gave themselves a fighting chance of qualification last week with a valiant comeback in Clermont Auvergne which earned them a bonus point. Kidney's side now need a final push against the mighty London side to oust them from top spot in pool five.

Jerry Flannery is retained at hooker after being cited for an alleged stamp on Clermont's Julien Bonnaire last week, while outhlaf Ronan O'Gara will again captain the side in the absence of Paul O'Connell whose back injury is a growing concern for club and country.

Secondrow Mick O'Driscoll continues his partnership with Donncha O'Callaghan in the absence of Ireland vice-captain. All Black Doug Howlett makes his home Euro debut for the province on the wing.

Wasps rugby director Ian McGeechan makes two changes from the side that crushed Llanelli Scarlets last weekend, with Josh Lewsey replacing fullback David Doherty and centre Rob Hoadley deputising for Riki Flutey.

Neither Flutey (hamstring) nor England flanker Joe Worsley (neck) were considered for the trip to Limerick.

A bonus point home win should give Munster top spot - it could also dump the Londoners out - but a draw would be enough for Wasps, or even a losing bonus.

In the event of Munster winning and Wasps securing a bonus point in defeat, the sides would finish level on 19 points and the final standings would be decided on the head-to-head meetings according to the following criteria: one - match points; two - tries; three - points aggregate.

As the match points would then be five apiece from the two games, and the try tally was two apiece when Wasps beat Munster 24-23, Munster would need to win scoring more tries, or scoring the same number of tries and by two points or more.

Thus, were Munster to be winning by as much as 14 points entering the final stages of tomorrow's game, but the try count on the day was level, Wasps could still go through by dint of scoring a late converted try.

Whatever the outcome, the game has 'Munster epic' written all over it and former Ireland hooker Keith Wood believes it will come down to crowd, despite Wasps having more "firepower".

"I think it will be a great game, but I am tipping Munster to win it because of the Thomond Park factor," Wood said today.  "Wasps probably have the better team with more options and firepower. They are also the defending champions, and they thrive on winning away from home.

"But Thomond Park is such a difficult place to play. Munster have lost there just once in 10 years of Heineken Cup rugby - that tells its own story.

"There have been so many miracle matches where Munster have pulled it out of the bag. That is far more than coincidence."

Announcing his side today, McGeechan said: "Munster are a team with an outstanding European record.

"We have huge respect for them and what they have achieved in this competition, and we will have to be on world-class form to get anything from this game."

Munster: Shaun Payne; Brian Carney, Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi, Doug Howlett; Ronan O'Gara capt, Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes; Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll; Denis Leamy, David Wallace, Anthony Foley. Replacements: Frank Sheahan, Tony Buckley, Donnacha Ryan, Alan Quinlan, Tomas O'Leary, Paul Warwick, Kieran Lewis.

Wasps: Josh Lewsey; Paul Sackey, Fraser Waters, Rob Hoadley, Dominic Waldouck; Danny Cipriani, Eoin Reddan; Tim Payne, Raphael Ibanez, Phil Vickery; Simon Shaw, George Skivington; James Haskell, Tom Rees, Lawrence Dallaglio(c). Replacements: Joe Ward, Tom French, Tom Palmer, John Hart, Mark McMillan, David Doherty, Mark Van Gisbergen