Howlett in line for Munster debut

Declan Kidney has included Ireland internationals Paul O'Connell and Alan Quinlan and All Black Doug Howlett in an extended Munster 26-man squad ahead of Sunday's Heineken Cup Round 5 match against Clermont Auvergne in France.

It is likely that Howlett will be pressed into service given the injuries to Ian Dowling and Anthony Horgan. O'Connell is not likely to feature from the start and Quinlan could play the eighty.

The starting line up and replacements will be announced on Friday at lunchtime, with the team flying out from Shannon early on Saturday morning ahead of Sunday's fixture.

MUNSTER SQUAD (v Clermont-Auvergne):

Shaun Payne, Doug Howlett, Brian Carney, Anthony Horgan, Kieran Lewis, Rua Tipoki, Lifeimi Mafi, Ronan O'Gara, Paul Warwick, Peter Stringer, Tomas O'Leary, Marcus Horan, Frank Sheahan, Jerry Flannery, Tony Buckley, John Hayes, Federico Pucciariello, Donncha O'Callaghan, Mick O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, Donnacha Ryan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy, Anthony Foley.