Gaffney confident of win over Biarritz despite O’Gara loss

MUNSTER coach Alan Gaffney still believes the province can upset the Heineken Cup form-book success without Ronan O’Gara and Christian Cullen.

Shaun Payne will be charged with the duty of taking over from All Black Cullen, while Paul Burke will slot in for O'Gara, who has been ruled out of Sunday's Biarritz quarter final with a knee injury.

Munster will unveil Brian Lima after the Samoan finally arrived in Ireland on Friday, too late to get a run in the Celtic League against Gwent Dragons, but in apparent good health after being subjected to a series of medical tests.

Lima will meet up with his new colleagues in Limerick today and train with them for the first time in the afternoon.

The Samoan is happy playing in the centre or on the wing but he is more likely to be chosen at number 14 for Munster.

That would leave Gaffney to choose between the rock solid John Kelly or the more explosive but sometimes defensively vulnerable Mike Mullins at No 13 alongside, Rob Henderson.

Either way, Gaffney will be happy that Kelly, Mullins and Burke all impressed in the Celtic League victory over Gwent Dragons.

Burke slotted in comfortably when he replaced the injured O'Gara and there are no worries about his big match temperament.

O'Gara sustained a knee ligament injury in the opening half of the Celtic League game on Friday and faces a fitness fight to realise his provincial and Lions ambitions.

The prognosis is encouraging if Munster do manage to overcome Biarritz, medical advice suggests that the out-half could make it back in time to challenge for a place in the semi-final.