Melville: winning in Munster our goal

Gloucester know they are guaranteed a last-eight place if they avoid defeat at Thomond Park. Gloucester crushed Munster 35-16 at Kingsholm in October and do not intend showing mercy this time either. “We are totally ready for it,” said Gloucester rugby director Nigel Melville.

“The big incentive for us is that it’s a must-win game. We want to go through and win the pool, which would give us a home tie.

“Winning in Munster would be significant in itself but would also give us a big insight into things we could take into the quarter-finals.”

Munster are bidding for their 13th successive European victory in Limerick - an imperious record that could see them through at the expense of England’s current top club.

“We have beaten every team who have come to Thomond Park in the Heineken Cup. It’s a record we are fiercely proud of and will be looking to uphold against Gloucester,” said Munster number eight Anthony Foley, who will become the first player to make 50 Heineken Cup appearances this weekend.

“If you had told us five years ago that winning the Heineken Cup was a realistic goal for Munster then I don’t think many of us would have believed you.

“But we have lost out by just one score in two finals in three seasons and it’s now the ambition of every rugby player in Munster to one day win the cup.”

Gloucester travelled with a 24-man squad to Ireland but without exciting wing Marcel Garvey. He is suffering from a hamstring injury and his place in the party went to Daren O’Leary.

Heineken Cup holders Leicester go into today’s Pool One encounter against Neath at Welford Road knowing they have already topped their group.

But the Tigers cannot afford to take their foot off the pedal as a fourth successive victory would guarantee them an all-important home draw.

Neath, who held Leicester 16-16 at The Gnoll three months ago, still have a mathematical chance of progressing but it would require astonishing

sequence of results elsewhere to work in their favour.

French outfit Bourgoin are favourites to clinch the runners-up qualification spot but need to beat visitors Sale Sharks today and increase their try-count in the process.

Bourgoin’s task should be made easier by the fact Sale have made several changes, including giving a rest to their most potent attacking weapon, England star Jason Robinson.

Biarritz must also put the emphasis on tries against hapless Cardiff today, but three other Heineken Cup games will have only pride at stake.

Beziers entertain Calvisano, Swansea host Montferrand and Newport greet Edinburgh, yet all six teams have already been eliminated.

MUNSTER: J Staunton; J Kelly, M Mullins, J Holland, M Lawlor; R O’Gara P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, M O’Driscoll, D O’Callaghan, J Williams (captain), A Quinlan, A Foley

Replacements J. Blaney, M Cahill, M Galwey, E Halvey/D Leamy, M Prendergast, D Malone/ C McMahon, K Keane.

GLOUCESTER: H Paul; J Simpson-Daniel / T Beim, T Fanolua, R Todd, T Delport; L Mercier, A Gomarsall; R Roncero, O Azam, P Vickery (capt), R Fidler, M Cornwell, P Buxton, J Boer / A Hazell, J Paramore.

Replacements: C Stuart-Smith, S Amor, T Beim / D O'Leary, C Collins, A Deacon, A Hazell / J Forrester, A Eustace.

Referee: J. Jutge (France)