James Coughlan believes there is still an opportunity for redemption as Munster head into the last few games of the RaboDirect Pro12 with their hopes of semi-final qualification hanging by a thread.

Having been sidelined since October with a back problem, Munster second row Paul O’Connell returns to the starting team for the RaboDirect PRO12 interprovincial showdown against Connacht at Musgrave Park on Saturday (5.45pm).

Munster head coach Rob Penney will discover whether the blow torch treatment he dispensed to his squad this week had the desired effect this evening.

After last weekend’s drubbing at the hands of Treviso, Munster head coach Rob Penney has made five personnel changes for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Ospreys at Thomond Park (6.30pm).

Scotland have been challenged to target Ronan O’Gara at Murrayfield on Sunday as the veteran fly-half prepares to start his first game for Ireland since the 2011 World Cup.

Scarlets 18 Munster 10

Ian Madigan will not get a chance to prove he can be the answer to Ireland’s out-half problems after he was left out of the 29-man training squad to face Scotland next weekend.

Munster will roll out a couple of heavyweights for their trip to Llanelli tonight.

Mike Sherry will captain Munster for the first time in tomorrow night’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Scarlets in Llanelli (6.30pm).

Gordon D’Arcy (dead leg) and Peter O’Mahony (concussion) have recovered from the injuries sustained in last weekend’s win over Wales allowing Declan Kidney to name an unchanged starting XV for Sunday’s crucial meeting with England at the Aviva Stadium (3pm).

The French media is no wiser than the Irish about where Jonathan Sexton will be playing next season with Racing Metro president Jacky Lorenzetti denying a deal had been done.

A hamstring injury has forced Johne Murphy to withdraw from the Munster squad as they prepare to face Cardiff Blues in the RaboDirect PRO12 tonight.

Signed by an outgoing coach, Munster new boy Sean Dougall had more than most to prove to incoming boss Rob Penney when the New Zealanader succeeded Tony McGahan this summer.

Keith Earls is set to return from injury for Munster tomorrow for the RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Cardiff Blues as Rob Penney marshals his big guns for a crucial month ahead.

Ronan O'Gara will become Munster's most capped player when he takes the field for the province’s RaboDirect PRO12 game against Cardiff Blues in Musgrave Park on Saturday (7.30pm).

Munster 24 Ulster 10

Munster 15 Saracens 9

A new back row, a substitute referee and a familiar rallying cry for Munster ahead of tomorrow’s must-win clash with Saracens as Conor Murray called on the new generation to dish out a Heineken Cup hammering of their own at Thomond Park.

Munster 31 Glasgow Warriors 3

Munster coach Rob Penney is expecting fireworks at Thomond Park tonight when his side battle for a RaboDirect Pro12 top four spot against Glasgow Warriors.

Munster boss Rob Penney has recalled his international big guns following the conclusion of Ireland's autumn internationals for Saturday's game at home to Glasgow Warriors

Ireland coach Declan Kidney has named Ulster’s Craig Gilroy in his side to face Argentina at the Aviva on Saturday.

Jamie Heaslip will lead Ireland in Saturday’s Guinness Series opener against South Africa at the Aviva Stadium (5.30pm).

Cardiff Blues 18 Munster 24

The return to home comforts at Cardiff Arms Park tonight is no guarantee to help the Blues end a dismal run of defeats by Munster, but director of rugby Phil Davies remains hopeful the visitors might find it hard to grind out a result there.

There hasn’t been much talk about it recently, but Munster are still embarrassed about the capitulation to the Ospreys in last season’s RaboDirect semi-final.

After seven months of breaking the pain barrier to rescue his career, Niall Ronan is delighted to be back in action for Munster. Surgery and a long rehab programme may have helped mend cruciate ligament damage but it also put Ronan’s resolve to the test.

After a man-of-the-match performance at second-centre against the Dragons, Keith Earls will wear the number 13 jersey again on Saturday for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with defending champions Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium (6.30pm).

Munster 33 Dragons 13

Big hitters and new faces are present and correct after Declan Kidney yesterday named a 33-man Ireland training squad for a two-day training camp.

Rob Penney may now have a defeat on his record as Munster head coach, but the New Zealander sends a much-changed team out tonight at Thomond Park (8pm) against Newport Gwent Dragons confident his players are heading in the right direction with a big month coming up in October.

Munster will reunite Peter Stringer and Ronan O’Gara at half-back for the first time in 19 months as head coach Rob Penney shuffles his deck for tomorrow night’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Newport Gwent Dragons at Thomond Park (8pm).

Munster head coach Rob Penney has resisted the urge to start returning Test backs Ronan O’Gara, Conor Murray and Keith Earls in tomorrow night’s RaboDirect Pro12 tussle with Ulster, having named the Ireland trio on the bench for the Ravenhill derby.

Dave Kilcoyne, BJ Botha and Donncha O’Callaghan represent the three changes Rob Penney has made for his side’s visit to Ravenhill on Friday for their RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with Ulster (7.05pm).

Newly-appointed Munster manager Niall O’Donovan is optimistic the province will regroup to become a major European force again.

After Saturday, it’s just as well Ireland are not coming back here for 12 years.

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has thrown down the gauntlet to Saturday’s Heineken Cup finalists on the fringes of the Test side to prove they are worth a place on next month’s tour to New Zealand.

Tony McGahan is banking on youthful enthusiasm to help carry defending champions Munster through their RaboDirect Pro12 semi-final at Ospreys in Swansea tonight (7.35pm).

Tony McGahan welcomed Ronan O’Gara back to Munster squad for the first time in a month ahead of tomorrow night’s RaboDirect Pro12 semi-final at Ospreys but revealed Damien Varley’s injury may be worse than first feared.

Munster second row Mick O'Driscoll announced today that he will retire from rugby at the end of the current season.

Tony McGahan didn’t mask his bitter disappointment at Munster’s Heineken Cup quarter-final exit yesterday and declared that wereMunster to retain their RaboDirect Pro12 title it wouldn’t compensate for what happened against Ulster.

Tony McGahan hands first Heineken Cup starts to hooker Mike Sherry and wing-forward Tommy O'Donnell as his side take on Ulster in Sunday's quarter final on Easter Sunday (1.45pm).

Munster are set to delve deep into their reservoir of young talent with the near certainty that hooker Mike Sherry will start Sunday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final.

Tony McGahan was a relieved man yesterday as he watched his stars cruise through a tough training session four days before the Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with Ulster at Thomond Park.