Munster without key trio for Clermont tie

Munster will travel to Clermont-Auvergne in the Heineken Cup on Sunday without the considerable experience of Jerry Flannery, Denis Leamy and Rua Tipoki.

Captain Paul O'Connell will lead what is for the moment an extended 26-man squad in preparations for a crucial pool match.

Denis Fogarty, Justin Melck and Paul Warwick will hotly contest the three positions that have to be filled because the three first teamers are out due to injury.

MUNSTER SQUAD (v Clermont-Auvergne):

Marcus Horan, Federico Pucciariello, John Hayes, Tony Buckley, Denis Fogarty, Frank Sheahan, Mick O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell, Donncha O'Callaghan, Donnacha Ryan, Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, James Coughlan, Niall Ronan, John O'Sullivan, Tomas O'Leary, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, Paul Warwick, Lifeimi Mafi, Keith Earls, Barry Murphy, Kieran Lewis, Ian Dowling, Doug Howlett, Anthony Horgan.