RABO DIRECT PRO12:

They weren’t always the double act we know them as now.

Put Munster’s back against any wall and you can expect a fighting reaction.

MUCH has changed since Munster last contested a Heineken Cup pool clash in this part of Wales.

GIVEN their back three injury woes, Munster could have done with an adverse weather forecast here in Llanelli this afternoon.

LEINSTER start their Heineken Cup campaign tonight as the hunted, not the hunter.

FELIPE CONTEPOMI believes a repeat of last year’s away form holds the key to Leinster’s hopes for silverware.

LEINSTER defence coach Kurt McQuilkin believes the province is ‘in a good place’ in terms of the race for Magners League and Heineken Cup honours.

Scarlets 27 Blues 13

THIS year’s Heineken Cup took off in spectacular fashion last weekend with some outstanding contests, surprise results and cracking atmosphere.

Scarlets 16 Munster 18

RUA TIPOKI and Jerry Flannery are the only notable absentees from a squad of 24 announced yesterday by Munster manager Shaun Payne for Friday’s Magners League game against the Scarlets at the brand new Parc y Scarlets.

Scarlets 22 Harlequins 29

SALE SHARKS will enter a Heineken Cup cauldron today without two of their main ingredients — England World Cup stars Mathew Tait and Andrew Sheridan.

THE SCARLETS move into their impressive 20,000-seater home, Parc y Scarlets, on the outskirts of eastern Llanelli in mid-November when the Baa-baas come to town.

Scarlets 45 Connacht 3

Coach Michael Bradley has taken a chance on making six changes for Connacht's Magners League clash with the Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park on Saturday (kick off: 5.30pm).

Connacht have announced a 24-man squad ahead of their match against the Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park on Saturday (kick off: 5.30pm).

LLANELLI SCARLETS have appointed Nigel Davies as their new head coach.

Llanelli Scarlets 12 Edinburgh 29

Anthony Foley will captain Munster in his farewell match against Glasgow in the final Magners League game of the season at Musgrave Park on Saturday.

Llanelli 23 Munster 24

Nathan Brew and Gavin Evans will form a new centre combination for Llanelli Scarlets against Munster in the penultimate Magners League game of the season at Stradey Park on Saturday.

TWO valued members of Munster’s extended Heineken Cup squad will miss the May 24 final at the Millennium Stadium because of injury.

Llanelli Scarlets could be on the verge of making two major southern hemisphere signings – despite sacking their rugby director Phil Davies.

Llanelli Scarlets are expected to confirm later today the departure of their rugby director Phil Davies, with speculation mounting that former Wales coach Gareth Jenkins could make a dramatic Stradey Park return.

WHEN HE arrived, the first cameo only painted a fragment of the complete Lifeimi Mafi.

HEINEKEN Cup officials confirmed last night that a further 1,750 tickets for Munster’s European Cup semi-final clash with Saracens on Sunday week have been allocated to the province.

Llanelli Scarlets 10 Leinster 24

The Leinster team to face the Llanelli Scarlets in Saturday evening’s Magners League clash in Stradey Park (KO: 5.30pm) has been named. Malcolm O’Kelly will become the most capped Leinster of all time when he lines up for his 140th appearance.

MALCOLM O’KELLY could become Leinster’s most capped player in Saturday’s top-of-the-table Magners League clash with Llanelli Scarlets, (Stradey Park, 5.30pm).

Malcolm O'Kelly should become the most capped player in Leinster history if he wins his 140th cap against the Llanelli Scarlets in the Magners League at Stradey Park on Saturday (KO: 5.30pm).

COMPETITION is the heartbeat of any side. On that basis alone, Munster are in rude health as their quest to regain the Heineken Cup gathers momentum over the next 10 days.

THERE may still be five rounds to play before this year’s Magners League campaign is put to bed, but Leinster already have one hand gripped firmly around the trophy after events in Dublin and Wales last night.

LLANELLI Scarlets leapfrogged the Cardiff Blues into second place in the Magners League with a bonus-point victory following a hard-fought derby clash at Stradey Park last night.

Llanelli Scarlets 35 Cardiff Blues 17

A LACK of involvement with the national side is one of the key reasons behind Keith Gleeson’s decision to retire from professional rugby at the end of the season, according to Leinster coach Michael Cheika.

Llanelli Scarlets 30 Glasgow Warriors 7

ENGLAND star Jonny Wilkinson will head into the RBS Six Nations Championship convinced he has made the right decision by pledging his future with Newcastle.

Llanelli Scarlets 0 Clermont Auvergne 41

Ryan Jones is determined to be back in a Wales jersey for the start of the RBS 6 Nations.

LLANELLI SCARLETS may be the only team in Pool Five of the Heineken Cup out of contention for a qualifying spot, but the Welsh region could yet prove to be the joker in the pack, according to Wasps scrum-half Eoin Reddan.

LLANELLI coach Phil Davies has promised Munster they will take a big scalp in their remaining Heineken Cup fixtures — good news as they battle for knockout qualification in the New Year.

Munster could go top of the Heineken Cup Pool 5 this afternoon with a bonus point victory over Llanelli Scarlets.