Next Saturday will see champions Shannon will contest their third AIB League Division One final in four years after a two-try effort saw off plucky Clontarf 21-11 at Thomond Park.

Alan Gaffney will have to do without Paul O’Connell - suspended for two weeks for punching Robert Sidoli - and Trevor Hogan has been given the nod ahead of Australian international Tom Bowman to partner Donncha O’Callaghan against Llanelli at Rodney Parade on Friday evening.

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.

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).

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.

Munster will be hot favourites to scalp Leinster, given the strength of their selection, in the Celtic League at Musgrave Park on Friday.

Alan Gaffney has decided to use Rob Henderson, Anthony Horgan and David Wallace in his Munster side to meet The Borders at Musgrave Park tomorrow evening.

Munster have been hit with the loss of full back to Shaun Payne, due to a knee injury, picked up against Treviso for the pool decider against Bourgoin in Limerick on Saturday.

Irish international Marcus Horan will replace Gordon McIlwham at loose-head in the only alteration to the Munster side to meet Bourgoin at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Frankie Sheahan, try-scoring Heineken Cup man-of-the-match in Saturday’s heroic 35-14 defeat of Gloucester, has been withdrawn from the Munster side to face Treviso tomorrow evening at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo, due to a knee complaint.

Coach Alan Gaffney has shown that he is not underestimating Treviso by selecting the strongest available Munster side for the trip to Italy on Saturday.

Tight head John Hayes returns to the Munster side for their Heineken Cup showdown with Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday (5pm).

Rob Henderson will make his first start for Munster since tearing a muscle in his bicep in early September in their Heineken Cup tussle with Benetton Treviso at Thomond Park on Saturday.

MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney yesterday announced a 25 strong Munster squad from which the team to play Benetton Treviso in the Heineken European Cup at Thomond Park on Saturday will be picked tomorrow.

Alan Gaffney has named a 25-man squad, adding Anthony Horgan, Eddie Halvey and Colm McMahon, to last week's 22 as Munster prepare to entertain Treviso in the Heineken Cup at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Ireland's John Kelly replaces Mossie Lawlor on the wing in the only change to Alan Gaffney's side for their first foray into the Heineken Cup at Bourgoin on Saturday.

Alan Gaffney has decided to select the versatile Jason Holland at out-half with Conrad O'Sullivan coming into the centre to partner Mike Mullins for the Celtic League clash with Edinburgh at Meadowbank on Frisday night (K/O 7.30pm).

Colm McMahon has become an indirect beneficiary of Alan Quinlan's dislocated shoulder as he has been called up for Munster.

MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney has two lists of names written on a notice board at his Thomond Park office to remind him of the current predicament he finds himself in.

THE IRFU yesterday launched a ‘Player Registration Card’ in a bid to develop the game in Ireland.

PLEASING and fulfilling as it undoubtedly is to be coach of a squad as magnificent as Munster’s, there are aspects of Alan Gaffney’s job which he could do without — such as having to tell players they aren’t required for a match as big as Saturday’s Heineken European Cup semi-final against Toulouse at the Stadium de Toulouse.

Munster coach Alan Gaffney has chosen to announce a 26-man squad ahead of their make-or-break Heineken European Cup quarter-final at Welford Road on Sunday.

WORLD Cup recognition will be on the minds of all the players when Ireland and England clash in the A international at Donnybrook this evening, kick-off scheduled for 7pm.

FALLEN idol Yannick Bru and Christophe Dominic will attempt to persuade French coach Bernard Laporte of their worth in tonight’s A international against Ireland at Ravenhill.

FRANCE prodigy Dimitri Yachvili may have enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence but the scrum-half is not about to rest on his laurels.

The Ireland A team to play France A in Belfast on Friday night shows three changes from the team which beat Italy A 10 days ago.

IRELAND has made three changes in its side for the A international against Italy in Rovigo on Friday night.

Ireland squad of 22 for the RBS 6 Nations Championship match against Italy in Rome on Saturday (starting 15 and replacements to be announced on Wednesday).

Rob Henderson has been included in the Munster squad for the Celtic League final against Neath at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney has called for clarification on Heineken Cup qualification rules ahead of Saturday's crunch clash against Gloucester in Limerick.

Shannon will welcome back Munster stars Mick Galwey and Mossie Lawlor when the AIB League champions face GalwegIans at Thomond Park on Saturday.

Munster have made one enforced change to the side beaten by Gloucester for tomorrow’s must-win Heineken Cup clash against Perpignan.