One of the strengths of Munster rugby over the year has been the ideology that opponents must be respected at all costs, not necessarily feared but at least respected.

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).

Treviso 34 Munster 10

RaboDirect Pro12

Felix Jones and James Downey return to the Munster starting XV for the first time since facing Racing Metro in mid January, for Sunday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Benetton Treviso at Stadio di Monigo (3pm).

Scarlets 18 Munster 10

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).

Munster 30 Edinburgh 3

RABODIRECT PRO12:

With a host of regular starters missing through Six Nations duty and others on the injury list Rob Penney has made twelve changes to his starting XV from the last RaboDirect PRO 12 game for tomorrow’s meeting with Edinburgh at Musgrave Park (7.45pm).

Ian Keatley has been charged with helping lift Munster into the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup after his expected elevation to the team that meets Racing Metro at Thomond Park tomorrow (12.45pm).

Ian Keatley will replace Ronan O’Gara at flyhalf in the only change Munster boss Rob Penney has made for Sunday's crucial meeting with Racing Metro at Thomond Park (12.45pm).

Having missed the Round 4 defeat to Saracens Keith Earls, Dave Kilcoyne, Tommy O’Donnell and Damien Varley are all named in Rob Penney’s starting XV for Sunday’s Heineken Cup meeting with Edinburgh at Murrayfield (12.45pm).

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

Rob Penney has opted to leave Ronan O’Gara on the bench for Munster’s RaboDirect PRO12 meeting with league leaders Ulster in Thomond Park tomorrow (5.30) with Ian Keatley retaining the number 10 jersey.

Connacht 12 Munster 16

Rob Penney might think it strange to be still working his rugby brain in the build up to a day when Santa Claus and kids are king, but he knows he better get used to it.

James Coughlan will lead a much changed Munster side when they resume their RaboDirect PRO12 campaign against Connacht in Galway on Saturday (5.15pm).

Munster coach Rob Penney has made 10 changes from the starting team defeated by Saracens last week for tomorrow’s RaboDirect derby with Connacht at the Sportsground in Galway.

Rob Penney has made just one change to his starting XV for the return game against Saracens in Vicarage Road on Sunday with Casey Laulala coming into the side in place of the injured Keith Earls.

Munster 15 Saracens 9

Munster head coach Rob Penney has made seven changes to his starting XV from the side that took the field against Edinburgh in Round 2 for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup showdown with Saracens at Thomond Park (6pm).

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

Munster 6 Scarlets 13

Ian Keatley returns to the Munster fly-half berth tomorrow as the province eyes the chance to nick points off second-placed Scarlets as RaboDirect Pro12 action returns to Musgrave Park (5:15pm).

Munster head coach Rob Penney has made six changes to his starting XV for Sunday’s RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Scarlets at Musgrave Park (5.15pm).

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.

Having been released from Ireland’s Carton House training camp, Ronan O'Gara will take his place on the starting XV for Munster's RaboDirectPRO12 game against Cardiff Blues at the Arms Park on Friday (7.05pm).

Munster coach Rob Penney has made six changes from the side that started against Ospreys for tomorrow's RaboDirect PRO12 clash with Leinster in Dublin (6.30pm).

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

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.