ALTHOUGH Frankie Sheahan is a late defection due to a calf injury, Munster face Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park this evening (5.30pm) confident of a record-equalling 10th successive victory in the Celtic League.

Munster have made their intentions clear by making just three changes from the side that humbled Harlequins in the Heineken Cup for the Celtic League trip to Llanelli on Saturday.

Munster have made one change to their team for tomorrow's Heineken Cup clash with Harlequins at Twickenham.

Munster will go with a new-look centre partnership between Mike Mullins and Shaun Payne after Rob Henderson was ruled out with a head injury for the visit of The Ospreys to Thomond Park on Saturday evening.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has decided to wait until Friday before announcing his side to meet the Neath-Swansea Ospreys on Saturday.

Ireland internationals David Wallace and John Kelly were the only noticeable absentees from Alan Gaffney's 25-man squad for the meeting with Connacht at The Sportsgrounds next Monday (2pm).

WHEREAS coach Alan Gaffney occasioned little or no surprise when he announced his side to meet Castres in tonight’s Heineken European Cup tie in Castres, his opposite number, Christope Urios, unexpectedly made three changes to his anticipated line-up.

Munster will have to do it the hard way, without Denis Leamy and John Kelly, when they travel to Castres for Friday night's Heineken Cup appointment in France.

Coach Alan Gaffney has resisted the temptation to include new Ireland cap Denis Leamy for Munster’s engagement with Edinburgh at Murrayfield tomorrow night.

Ever-present Christian Cullen has been rested for Munster’s home clash with The Borders in the Celtic League on Friday (6.45pm).

DAVID WALLACE has been moved to open side flanker for Munster’s Celtic League clash with Newport-Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park tomorrow (8.05).

Hooker James Blaney will make his first start of the season in a Munster side that shows five changes in personnel for the visit of The Gwent Dragons to Musgrave Park on Saturday evening.

ULSTER may have slipped down the Celtic League table after losing the last three games, but they’ll still go all-out to protect an enviable home record against Munster at Ravenhill this afternoon (5.15pm).

Coach Alan Gaffney has decided to stick with just four players - namely, Christian Cullen, Shaun Payne, Donncha O'Callaghan and David Wallace - from last Sunday for their Celtic League get-together with Ulster at Ravenhill on Saturday.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has put Donncha O’Callaghan and Shaun Payne straight back into action as Munster face up to a serious examination of their credentials at The Neath-Swansea Ospreys on Sunday.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has decided to leave Shaune Payne and Donncha O'Callaghan out of an extended 26-man squad for their Heineken Cup encounter with Harlequins at Thomond Park on Saturday.

DONNCHA O’Callaghan and Shaun Payne are out of the Munster team to meet Harlequins in the opening match of the Heineken European Cup at Thomond Park on Saturday.

APRIL 30, 2004 was a sad and ignominious day in the history of Munster rugby. That was the date when an understrength side from the province crashed 60-14 to their Cardiff hosts at the Arms Park.

ROB HENDERSON, Jim Williams and Paul O’Connell return from injury to face Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park on Saturday (5.15) in a Munster side that shows five changes from the side that started against Glasgow last week.

Jim Williams and Denis Leamy have been restored to the Munster side to meet Cardiff Blues at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Thirteen Irish internationals will start for Munster on Sunday as they bid to boost their flagging Celtic League fortunes against the Llanelli Scarlets.

ALAN GAFFNEY has expressed his support for the 10-week pre-season afforded to international players.

Ireland international Denis Hickie returns to the Leinster squad for the Celtic League clash with Munster at Donnybrook on Saturday (5.15pm).

MUNSTER will unveil latest signing Tom Bowman in tonight’s Celtic League clash with Connacht at Musgrave Park (8pm).

Irish international John Kelly will make his first appearance in the red of Munster for their Celtic League examination by Connacht at Musgrave Park on Saturday evening (8.05pm).

Neath-Swansea Ospreys 34 Munster 17

Prop Frank Roche and second row Shane O'Connor have been added as the two changes to the Munster side that faced Newcastle Falcons for their Celtic League opener at the Neath/Swansea Ospreys on Friday night (7.05pm).

Borders 10 Munster 18

Munster will pair David Pusey with Paul O'Connell in the injured absence of Donncha O'Callaghan for the Celtic League clash with The Borders at Netherdale.

Anthony Horgan's impressive return to form in the All Ireland League semi-final for Cork Constitution has prompted an inclusion in the Munster side to face Connacht at Thomond Park on Frdiay evening.

Ireland international Alan Quinlan will make his return after a shoulder injury in the World Cup for Munster's trip to Cardiff Blues in the Celtic League on Friday night.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has decided to leave out eleven of his first choice players for their Celtic League meeting with Edinburgh at Musgrave Park on Friday evening.

Shaun Payne is the only surprise choice in the Munster side to meet Franch champions Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup quarter final at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Mossie Lawlor and Eddie Halvey were the big losers as Alan Gaffney reduced his Munster squad from 24 to 22.

Celtic Warriors 29 Munster 25

Munster will have Ireland internationals Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan, Anthony Foley and David Wallace on board in a very strong line-up for their Celtic League tie at Celtic Warriors.

Alan Gaffney has left Christian Cullen at home with a minor back injury ahead of their Celtic League tie with Glasgow at Hughenden on Friday.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has selected the fit-again Marcus Horan and included the inexperienced Conrad O'Sullivan and Frank Murphy at half-back for the Celtic League date with the Gwent Dragons.

Tom Hayes, the younger brother of Ireland prop John, will step into Munster's second row for the injured Trevor Hogan in Friday's Celtic League tie with Ulster at Ravenhill.

All Black record try-scorer Christian Cullen will make his debut for Munster against the Neath/Swansea Ospreys in the Celtic League at Musgrave Park on Friday.

Anthony Horgan is the only change in Alan Gaffney's Munster side to face Llanelli in Stradey Park on Friday evening.