Munster began their preparations for their first ever Amlin Challenge Cup match in Cork on Tuesday, and they will have a final session tomorrow in Limerick before flying out to Brive on Friday.

Apart from ankle injury victim Paul O'Connell, all ot the players came through Saturday'ss bruising Magners League encounter with Leinster.

One of the most bruised and battered was match winner Ronan O'Gara who sustained a facial injury during the opening minutes of the second half.

"The eye (that looked black and blue) isn't a problem at all but I'd be feeling fairly sore all over. Saturday's game against Brive will be as tough as anything we'd expect in France," he said.

"You only have to look at their home record, some of the teams they've beaten - Stade (Francais), Clermont Auvergne, Perpignan, Toulon - to see it's going to be a tough assignment for us.

"They're a typical French side, they take pride in their home performance, their supporters expect that, so yes it's going to be massive task for us to win there."

MUNSTER Squad (v Brive) - Backs (11): Felix Jones, Denis Hurley, Doug Howlett, Johne Murphy, Sam Tuitupou, Lifeimi Mafi, Keith Earls, Paul Warwick, Ronan O'Gara, Conor Murray, Peter Stringer.

Forwards (14): Wian du Preez, Marcus Horan, Stephen Archer, John Hayes, Tony Buckley, Damien Varley, Mike Sherry, Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Niall Ronan, David Wallace, James Coughlan, Denis Leamy.