Anthony Horgan has been named on the replacements bench, while the one positional change up front sees Alan Quinlan, who started in the second row against Edinburgh, return to the more familiar role of blindside flanker.

Donnacha Ryan, who mised the game against Edinburgh because of a family bereavement, is restored to the second row to partner stand-in captain Mick O'Driscoll.

The other changes see Darragh Hurley come into the front row in place of Federico Pucciariello and with Ryan's return, Niall Ronan has to be content with a place on the bench.

MUNSTER (v Newport Gwent Dragons): Denis Hurley; Kieran Lewis, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Ciaran O'Boyle; Paul Warwick, Peter Stringer; Darragh Hurley, Denis Fogarty, Tony Buckley, Mick O'Driscoll (capt), Donnacha Ryan, Alan Quinlan, Denis Leamy, Nick Williams.

Replacements: Michael Essex, Timmy Ryan, Billy Holland, Niall Ronan, Duncan Williams, Jeremy Manning, Anthony Horgan.