If this doesn't get the ticker going then the batteries need recharging. The instigators of the Heineken European Cup surely had occasions such as this in mind - two traditional powerhouses of Irish and English rugby going toe to toe. It promises to be a raw, undiluted and unadulterated 80 minutes of combat.
It's a measure of the task facing the Irish provinces in the European Cup this weekend that they are playing three former winners of the competition. It is also, of course, a measure of their improved standing: whereas a few years ago Irish teams would have been fearful of the hidings they might be about to receive, our teams now approach these matches with a confident attitude. And the teams have good reasons for this, having provided the winners and the runners-up in the last two years.
Munster are at home today, but the unbeaten Thomond Park record creates its own pressures, as Munster have arguably played their best rugby abroad. But at Thomond even when they appear to be struggling and nothing appears to be happening for them, the player/crowd alliance acts as a catalyst.
One rumble by Peter Clohessy, Mick Galwey or the back row and the whole tenor of the game can change in an instant. They may be down, but they are never out until the fat lady sings.
There is a feeling within Bath, apparently, that Munster aren't quite the force they were last season and that the English club can win in Thomond Park and then go top of the table by beating Munster back in England next weekend. With Newport facing a possibly uninterested Castres back-to-back, it's by no means inconceivable that Munster could find themselves third in pool four in a little over a week's time.
This, then, is a targeted game for Bath. Head coach Jon Callard describes their task as "monumental", but cites as proof of their potential their win in Bordeaux against Brive in the final three years ago and the win away to Toulouse last season, which kept their European chances alive.
Bath may not quite be the domineering domestic force of old, but they were the form side in England over the second half of last season, finishing second to Leicester. They continue to unearth a stream of young talent from within as opposed to purchasing abroad, and thus retain some of that old rough and tough English self-belief and swagger about them.
To put them in context, Munster were within a point of Saracens and Northampton in all three clashes last season, and Bath finished above both of the English sides in the league.
Matt Perry and Iain Balshaw give them searing pace out wide to go with the blunter midfield instruments of Mike Tyndall and Kevin Maggs. Though he's been recalled to the wing, Maggs is sure to be launched up the middle as well, suggesting that Bath have targeted Munster's midfield defence.
Bath have the line-out variations in the richly promising and intense Steve Borthwick and the brilliant Dan Lyle to play a fast-paced wide game, as well as the link in between of Gareth Cooper, a gifted scrumhalf likely to be fast-tracked onto the Welsh team this year, and the versatile ex-All Black half-back Jon Preston.
There's a palpable fear about that Bath could trouble Munster up front and ultimately bring the wheels off. But where Bath could come under pressure, according to Keith Wood for one, is in the scrums, as Newport showed last week, and with John Langford having a game under his belt, Munster's line-out variations are top-class.
Last week's win in Castres also took Munster over a significant hump, reviving confidence and generating a new momentum. Coupled with their proven self-discipline and calmness when the going is hectic, Munster have the temperament to cope with what looks like being a tight game.
They're a cussed lot Munster and Wood also believes that the question of where Munster's points may come from could be superceded by where Bath's will come from.
Whatever, it won't be boring.
MUNSTER: D Crotty; J Kelly, M Mullins, J Holland, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; P Clohessy, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M Galwey (capt), J Langford, A Quinlan, A Foley, D Wallace. Replacements: M Horan, J Blaney, M O'Driscoll, C McMahon, T Tierney, J Staunton, K Keane.
BATH: M Perry; I Balshaw, P de Glanville, M Tyndall, K Maggs; J Preston, G Cooper; D Barnes, M Regan, C Horsman, M Haag, S Borthwick, A Gardiner, D Lyle, B Clarke. Replacements: S Berne, A Long, J Mallett, T Voyce, A Adebayo, G Thomas, N Thomas.
Referee: Joel Dume (France).
Previous meetings: None.
Results so far: Munster - bt Newport (h) 26-18; bt Castres (a) 32-29. Bath - bt Castres (h) 25-13; lost to Newport (a) 17-28.
Leading try scorers: Munster - Anthony Horgan 2; Bath - Dan Lyle, Gareth Cooper, Shaun Berne 1 each.
Leading points scorers: Munster - Ronan O'Gara 33; Bath - Jon Preston 23.
Odds (Paddy Powers): 1/2 Munster, 20/1 draw, 6/4 Bath. (Handicap odds = Bath + 5pts) 10/11 Munster, 16/1 draw, 10/11 Bath.
Forecast: Not one you can really call, and liable to be only a score in it. Munster to win nonetheless.
