Munster begin their second season under New Zealander Clayton McMillan with a tough test against Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park (kick-off 5.30pm). Tickets are on sale here.
Having lost three last meetings with Glasgow, and been knocked out in last season's quarter-finals, the Reds will be targeting a strong start, especially as they kick off the URC season with back-to-back home matches.
New front row signings Kieran Brookes and Marnus van der Merwe are both included for their Munster debuts - former Ireland underage international Brookes starts at tighthead, with South African hooker van der Merwe among the replacements.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old scrum half Ben O'Donovan will make his first start for the province having made very good strides since joining the Academy in February.
Academy half-backs Jake O'Riordan and Charlie O'Shea, both try scorers during last week's pre-season game against Leicester Tigers, have been handed bench roles.
UCC clubman O'Shea is set for his senior bow shortly after joining the province's Academy. The 20-year-old, a Munster Schools Senior Cup-winning captain in 2025, impressed for the Ireland Under-20s last season.
The back-three is comprised of Mike Haley, Diarmuid Kilgallen, the scorer of the bonus point try in last January's 31-22 defeat to Glasgow, and recent Academy graduate Ben O'Connor.
Seán O'Brien and Alex Nankivell, Munster's Player of the Year for 2025/26, combine in the centre, with Kerry native JJ Hanrahan the preferred choice at out-half having completed his return-to-play protocols.
McMillan's options at number 10 have been limited through injury, with Ireland international Jack Crowley ruled out until early 2027 due to a lower limb vascular injury.
Academy out-half Tom Wood has unfortunately joined Crowley on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on his shoulder this week.
Like Crowley, Wood is not expected to be back until the new year, so Ennis native Tony Butler has rejoined the province as injury cover on a short-term contract.
Packing down behind a front row trio of Michael Milne, stand-in captain Diarmuid Barron, and Brookes, who played for Perpignan most recently, will be Evan O'Connell and Fineen Wycherley.
There is a familiar look to a back row unit made up of double-centurion Jack O'Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, and number 8 Gavin Coombes, who is Munster's third top try scorer of all-time with 55 tries.
Young guns O'Riordan and O'Shea are part of a five-three bench split, which also includes newcomer van der Merwe, Josh Wycherley, Michael Ala'alatoa, Brian Gleeson, John Hodnett, and Dan Kelly.
As the 2023 and 2024 champions prepare to collide in a fixture that will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 1, head coach McMillan said: "There is always an extra bit of excitement and anticipation ahead of the first game of the season, and the players are itching to get back on the pitch at Thomond Park.
"It has been a really positive few months and the highlight for us was probably getting out into the community for the training sessions in Thurles, Newcastle West, and Ballina-Killaloe.
"The welcome we received from the three clubs was second to none, and having so many supporters come out to watch training made those days really special."
He added: "The players have worked hard over pre-season and now it's their opportunity to show that on the field against one of the best teams in the URC.
"We have three players set for their Munster debuts in Kieran, Marnus, and Charlie - they are all at different stages of their careers, but it's always special making your debut so we want to make it a memorable one for them.
"Ben O'Donovan will make his first start at scrum half and he has really taken his chance since joining our Academy at the start of the year.
"We have two young Academy half-backs in the replacements in Jake and Charlie. For Charlie in particular, he has had a whirlwind few weeks since joining us but he has taken it all in his stride.
"Shane Daly and Tom Ahern were not available this week due to injury, but they are progressing positively."
MUNSTER (v Glasgow Warriors): Mike Haley; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Alex Nankivell, Seán O'Brien, Ben O'Connor; JJ Hanrahan, Ben O'Donovan; Michael Milne, Diarmuid Barron (capt), Kieran Brookes, Evan O'Connell, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O'Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Josh Wycherley, Michael Ala'alatoa, Brian Gleeson, John Hodnett, Jake O'Riordan, Charlie O'Shea, Dan Kelly.
