“YOU don’t beat Munster twice in the same season,” has long been a mantra of the European champions and it’s one that will be put to a severe test at Thomond Park this afternoon (3pm, Setanta Sports) when Leinster make their first visit in nine years to the famous Limerick venue for an eagerly-awaited Magners League tie.

SHAUN PAYNE, Trevor Halstead and Federico Pucciarello have huge roles to play, but the European champions could never be the same or mean the same to their massive band of supporters without a strong core of home-grown players.

DECLAN KIDNEY has been stressing all week how happy he would be to leave this evening’s Heineken Cup clash with Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park (5.35pm) with four points.

Munster 36 Edinburgh 15

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

Munster coach Declan Kidney willl have to make do without Jeremy Manning, Ronan O'Gara, Christian Cullen, Marcus Horan and Denis Leamy for the Celtic League clash with Edinburgh Gunners at Thomond Park on Saturday next (7.30pm).

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.

PAUL O’CONNELL and Brian O’Driscoll into the action from the first whistle but no place in the Munster side for John Hayes.

CLOSE examination of the videos of the two Celtic League matches earlier in the week suggests that Leinster have more to be positive about going into Saturday’s crunch clash with Munster at the RDS.

Munster 36 Connacht 17

PAUL O’CONNELL makes his long awaited return when he leads Munster against Connacht in the Celtic League at Thomond Park this evening, kick-off 7.35pm.

MUNSTER must at least win their next three pool matches, starting with Newport Gwent Dragons at Thomond Park tomorrow, and they will attempt to do so with the backing of their amazing fans.

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.

Sale 27 Munster 13

As usual, Munster coach Declan Kidney is keeping his cards close to his chest by naming an extended 28-man squad ahead of Friday night's Heineken Cup clash with Sale Sharks in Manchester.

THANK God I’m not a dedicated soccer supporter. Like most Irishmen, I follow a wide range of sports and would have a particular interest when the national team (regardless of the code) is playing.

DECLAN Kidney didn’t believe Munster’s clinical 33-9 demolition of Leinster at Musgrave Park yesterday was the ideal dress rehearsal for the first outing in the Heineken European Cup at Sale on Saturday week.

Gloucester are negotiating a two-year-deal with Argentinian prop Rodrigo Roncero.