O'Gara returns to tackle Scarlets
O'Gara missed both Heineken Cup games against the Ospreys and Harlequins because of a hand injury but proved his fitness during the Irish squad session earlier this week.
A clean bill of health in Wales will send him to Rome on Sunday week in fine fettle for Ireland's Six Nations opener against Italy.
Munster coach Alan Gaffney has chosen an unchanged and full- strength pack for the difficult trip.
Jason Holland comes in at first centre in place of Rob Henderson with Paul Devlin chosen for a fourth Celtic League start on the right wing. Shaun Payne reverts to centre, with Mike Mullins dropping to the reserve bench.
Scarlets coach Nigel Davies is obliged to rest scrum-half Dwayne Peel and Dafydd James at the request of Welsh coach Mike Ruddock but will have Robin McBryde, the veteran hooker, and Mike Phillips available when he finalises his side today.
Although Simon Easterby is troubled by a hamstring strain he has been released by Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan, who wants to see him prove his fitness eight days before the visit to Rome. Llanelli have had to make do without experienced centre Mark Taylor since October following chicken pox and a detached retina but Davies confidently expects the Lion to turn out against Munster.
The Welsh side have lost their last three matches to Northampton, Toulouse and Edinburgh but Davies is unfazed by that disappointing run and said last night: "I felt that our defence stood the test at Murrayfield last weekend but we gifted them two interception tries and playing catch-up rugby is a dangerous place to be. Munster will bring a huge game with them and we need to ensure continuity if we are to beat them."
The battle for the Celtic League is now virtually a two horse race. Munster are currently five points behind leaders the Ospreys with a game in hand.
A bonus point win for Munster at Stradey and defeat by more than seven points for Ospreys later tomorrow against Glasgow at Hughendon would put the sides on level terms at the top of the table.
Leinster aren't out of contention just yet but will need to account for Newport Welsh Dragons - for a time the club of their coach Declan Kidney - at Lansdowne Road on Sunday if they are to stand any chance. Kidney welcomes back Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Denis Hickie and Malcolm O'Kelly from the side that lost to Borders last week.
The team will be finalised this afternoon and is likely to also include other Irish squad members in Shane Horgan, Reggie Corrigan, Girvan Dempsey, Eric Miller, Leo Cullen and Guy Easterby.
Meanwhile, Connacht will not want to slip up for a second successive week when they face The Borders at Netherdale this evening (7.30pm).
Having lost an opportunity to create a buffer between themselves and Cardiff last Saturday, Connacht now face another stiff test in their bid to win the vital Heineken Cup play-off berth.
Connacht coach Michael Bradley, who has not announced his side, said it is crucial his side gets a result in Scotland.
"After losing to Cardiff, we cannot afford to lose any more ground on Ulster, Cardiff and Llanelli," Bradley says.
The Borders, despite a poor season, are not easy prey. Leinster - albeit without their Irish squad players - discovered that last Saturday when they were stung by this Scottish side determined to overcome their lowly status. And Connacht can expect more of the same tomorrow evening.
Their 22-player squad is without latest injury victims Matt Lacey with a leg injury and James Downey, who fractured his collarbone.
However, Bradley has several options with the return of Mark McHugh and David Slemen.
McHugh, who came on for Downey in the centre last week, is likely to nail down that spot again, partnering Paul Warwick, while Slemen is expected to play at out-half alongside scrum-half Chris Keane.
Darren Yapp and Conor McPhillips will take over the wing positions with Matt Mostyn at fullback.
Up front little change is expected with John O'Sullivan, John Muldoon and Michael Swift in the backrow, and Andrew Farley and Christian Short in the second row.
: C. Cullen; P. Devlin, J. Holland, S. Payne, A. Horgan; R. O'Gara, P. Stringer; M. Horan, F. Sheahan, J. Hayes, P. O'Connell, D. O'Callaghan, A. Quinlan, D. Leamy, A. Foley capt.
- G. McIlwham, F. Roche, J. Flannery, T. Hogan, D. Wallace; E. Reddan, M. Mullins, A.N. Other.
: A. Ireland (Scotland).
: R. Nebbett, E. Byrne, R. Corrigan, D. Blaney, S. Byrne, B. Gissing, L. Cullen, M. O'Kelly, C. Potts, A. McCullen, E. Miller, V. Costello, N. Ronan,; backs B. O'Riordan, B. O'Driscoll, F. Contepomi, K. Lewis, D. Quinlan, G. D'Arcy, G. Easterby, G. Brown, G. Dempsey, D. Hickie, D. Holwell, S. Horgan.
: D. Changleng (SRU).
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