Good news for Munster ahead of their Heineken Cup clash with Gloucester at Kingsholm (5pm) is the return to the front-row of John Hayes who has recovered from a calf injury which he sustained in the game against Benetton Treviso. He was replaced that day in Thomond Park by Scottish International Gordon McIlwham who also played against Connacht last Friday, McIlwham is named on the Munster bench.

The only other area for real debat for Munster coach Alan Gaffney and his assistant Brian Hickey centred round who would play at full-back and they have opted to go with Shaun Payne in preference to Jeremy Staunton. who is named among the replacements.

Meanwhile, Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made six changes, two positional, from the side beaten by Munster, for the Parker Pen Challenge Cup clash with Pau at the Sportsground on Saturday (2pm).

Wayne Munn and David Hewett are introduced to a re-jigged backline which has no place in the starting line-up for Eric Elwood. Up front, Mike McCarthy and Tom Carter return with with prop Warren O'Kelly and back rower Mick Carroll listed among the replacements.

Munster: Shaun Payne; John Kelly, Mike Mullins, Rob Henderson, Anthony Horgan; Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Frank Sheahan, John Hayes; Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell; David Wallace, Jim Williams capt, Anthony Foley. Replacements: James Blaney, Gordon McIlwham, David Pusey, Stephen Keogh, Eoin Reddan, Jeremy Staunton, Jason Holland.

Connacht: Matt Mostyn; Conor McPhillips, Darren Yapp, Mark McHugh, Wayne Munn; David Hewitt, Mick Walls; Dan McFarland, Bernard Jackman, Adrian Clarke; Mike McCarthy, Andy Farley, Michael Swift, Tom Carter, John O'Sullivan. Replacements: John Fogarty, Warren O'Kelly, Matt Lacey, Mick Carroll, Conor O'Loughlin, Eric Elwood, Ted Robinson.