Exiles bid to tame Munster
Spearheading the Harlequins challenge will be ex-Munster player Jeremy Staunton, Connacht's Gavin Duffy and Leinster's Simon Keogh.
Also there to ensure an Irish look to the Harlequins line-up will be reserves Andy Dunne (ex-Leinster) and Mel Deane (ex-Connacht).
Harlequins make just one change to the side that started against Leicester Tigers last weekend.
With short-term signing Matt Henjak returning home to Australia earlier this week, Steve So'oialo takes his place at scrum-half.
Deane returns to the squad following a knee injury that has kept him out for the last five weeks and is amongst the replacements. Also on the bench are Mike Worsley and Dunne, who have recovered from back and knee problems respectively.
Harlequins, after losing all seven games in the Zurich Premiership, might appear to be travelling to Ireland on a wing and a prayer but chief executive Mark Evans thinks otherwise.
"The fact that Munster have never lost at Thomond Park in the Heineken Cup gives a clear indication of the magnitude of the task we face. They have consistently been one of the best teams in this competition in recent years and I'm sure they will fancy their chances of going all the way this season."
Gavin Duffy is also looking forward to the battle. Despite the poor start, Duffy is enjoying his rugby in England and looking forward to returning home.
Duffy, after experience of underage rugby with Ballina, and senior fare with Galwegians, was 19 when South African Connacht coach Steph Nel pitched him headlong into provincial rugby, but he had another mentor behind the scenes - John Kingston, who then coached Galwegians.
His arrival on the Connacht scene coincided with a good run and Duffy remembers when they got to the Celtic League quarter-finals.
"Glasgow beat us but we had a good run in the Parker Pen competition as well, so all in all it seemed to herald the start of a Connacht resurgence."
But after three seasons, it was time to move on. He loved Connacht but the prospect of playing for and against some of the top players and teams in Britain excited him and Harlequins, through newly-appointed coach Kingston, came calling.
Duffy took a risk. "I felt a change of scenery would suit me. It was a challenge to see if I could live in a competitive environment."
Within weeks he established himself as the number one choice full-back in the club, got rave reviews from the sometimes cynical English press and plenty of praise and encouragement from the back room people at the Stoop.
Good form paid dividends because Duffy was chosen to tour with Ireland to South Africa in the summer and went on to win his first cap.
"Primarily, I was just happy to get into the touring party but when you do that, your next ambition is always to get into the Test side."
For the moment, his focus is on helping Harlequins to a decent Heineken Cup run and change the course of a disappointing start to their season.
In relation to Munster he says: "There are links between the teams, both from past matches and between players who have moved one way or the other. That certainly will be an interesting aspect of this game."
He recognises the size of the task.
"It is going to be a huge game for us. You only have to look at Munster's record in Europe to realise that ours just does not compare. Munster have the benefit of consistency, of playing in the competition each and every season and of learning from the experience. We are under no illusions in terms of how difficult it will be. Our hope for this season is to have everything riding on the last game in England but we have got to get off to a great start and that really will be a big ask against Munster.
"The big bonus for us is we have gone to places in France similar to Thomond Park where the fans were partisan and intimidating.
"We survived a good number of those trips and we hope to survive another in Limerick."
G. Duffy, G. Harder, W. Greenwood, D. James, K. Keogh, J. Staunton, S. So'oialo, C. Jones, T. Fuga, M. Fitzgerald, R. Winters, S. Miall, N. Easter, T. Diprose, A. Vos (capt).
. A. Tiatia, M. Worsley, O. Palepoi, L. Sherriff, A. Dunne, M. Deane, T. Williams.
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