NEW Munster captain Paul O’Connell knows he has a tough act to follow.

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TOMÁS O'LEARY has been ruled out of the Munster team for tonight's Celtic League clash with Edinburgh Gunners at Thomond Park.

Ulster 27 Munster 3

A MUNSTER team hell bent on making amends for one of their worst performances in the last ten years can be expected to retain their position as Celtic League leaders after this afternoon’s (3.30, Setanta Sports) clash with Glasgow Warriors at Thomond Park.

IRELAND A internationals Tomas O’Leary, Barry Murphy and Mick O’Driscoll, along with Anthony Foley and Donncha O’Callaghan, are all included in the Munster squad for Saturday’s Celtic League clash with Glasgow at Thomond Park (3.30pm).

Munster 10 Dragons 8

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney has applied for three new player licences for his Celtic League squad ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park (5.15pm).

WITH the exception of reserve Jeremy Manning, ruled out by a broken arm, and long-term injury victims Frankie Sheahan, Alan Quinlan and Mike Mullins, Munster expect to be at full-strength for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup clash against Sale Sharks at Thomond Park.

ANTHONY FOLEY is a veteran of 71 Heineken European Cup matches with Munster, he has scored a record 21 tries and enjoyed some of his happiest moments, as well as some of the most difficult, away to top French sides.

MUNSTER’S preparations for tomorrow’s (1pm) Celtic League clash with Leinster at the RDS in Dublin have been disrupted by the death of coach Declan Kidney’s mother, Eileen, but they have still announced a 25-strong squad from which the starting side and seven replacements will be finalised today.

AFTER a six-week absence, Munster’s Shaun Payne may be set to return for Saturday’s Heineken Cup tie against the Newport Gwent Dragons at Thomond Park.

JEREMY Manning, Munster’s highly promising New Zealander, is handed an opportunity of establishing himself as a regular in the side with his selection at full-back for tonight’s (7.10pm) eagerly awaited Celtic League clash with Ulster at Musgrave Park.

Cardiff Blues 16 Munster 18

PAUL DEVLIN is the major fall-out victim in Declan Kidney’s 36-man Heineken Cup Squad, announced yesterday.

MUNSTER have received a welcome boost for tomorrow night as Lions Paul O'Connell, John Hayes, Ronan O'Gara and Donncha O'Callaghan all start for the Celtic League clash against Llanelli Scarlets at Musgrave Park (7.10pm).

Munster coach Declan Kidney is giving the youngsters on the panel plenty of opportunities.

MUNSTER will be boosted by the return of Lions Ronan O’Gara and Donncha O’Callaghan for Saturday’s Celtic League clash with Glasgow in Scotland.

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MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney has delayed team selection for the Celtic League clash with champions Neath/Swansea Ospreys.

MUNSTER coach Declan Kidney has named flanker David Wallace on the right wing for tonight's Celtic League opener against Border Reivers at Thomond Park (7.10pm).

LEO CULLEN’S life with the Leicester Tigers isn’t much different from the one he left behind in Leinster.

SOUTH AFRICAN centre Trevor Halstead will make his Munster debut in tomorrow night’s game with Leicester Tigers at Welford Road.

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MUNSTER have suffered a major blow to their Heineken Cup hopes with the news that jinxed former All Black Christian Cullen may be out of action until at least February.

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Buccaneers 3 Shannon 56

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THE Munster management are concerned over the whereabouts of Brian Lima after their recent big name signing for the concluding stages of the Celtic League and Heineken Cup failed to turn up this week.

INJURY-HIT Cardiff still hope to spring a Celtic League surprise on Munster at the Arms Park this evening (5.30).

RONAN O'GARA returns to a near full-strength Munster team for tomorrow's vital Celtic League clash with Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park (5.30pm, Setanta Sport).

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MUNSTER last night refuted allegations that prop Marcus Horan racially abused a Neath/Swansea Ospreys player at the Gnoll last weekend.

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JOHN KELLY and Jason Holland are back in action for Munster against Connacht at Musgrave Park on Saturday night.

WALLABY international Tom Bowman is set to sign for Munster today after undergoing a medical.

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RIVAL coaches Brian Walsh of Cork Constitution and Geoff Moylan of Shannon are waiting until this morning to finalise their sides for today’s AIB League Division One final at Lansdowne Road.