Back injury keeps O'Connell out of Munster team

Munster will be without captain Paul O'Connell for the penultimate Manger's League match of the season due to a back problem.

As usual, Mick O'Driscoll will take over the captaincy as six of the players who started the Heineken Cup semi-final will play again.

Full-back Denis Hurley, winger Brian Carney, fly-half Jeremy Manning, centre Barry Murphy will come into the backline.

Nick Williams, Denis Fogarty, Niall Ronan and Federico Pucciariello will complete the set of nine players who will get to stake a claim.

The disastrous injury to Tom Shanklin has not prevented Cardiff Blues coach Dai Young from selecting four British and Irish Lions to tackle the newly crowned champions.

"Like ourselves, Munster have a handful of Lions and were knocked out of the Heineken Cup in the semi-final stage," said Young.

"I do not know what kind of team they will be fielding but I am sure that we will have to be at our best to get the win."

The Welshmen have won three of their last four games against Irish opponents, whilst the last Irish side to win at the Arms Park was Leinster, 30-19, in the Magners League on 28 September 2007.

MUNSTER (v Cardiff): D Hurley; B Carney, B Murphy, K Earls, I Dowling; J Manning, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, D Fogarty, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll (capt), N Williams, N Ronan, D Leamy.

Replacements: M Essex, T Buckley, J Coughlan, D Foley; C Murray, P Warwick, K Lewis.

CARDIFF BLUES: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Richard Mustoe, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Chris Czekaj, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Darren Allinson, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Sam Warburton, 5 Scott Morgan, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Gary Powell, 2 Gareth Williams, 1 John Yapp.

Replacements: 16 Sam Hobbs, 17 T. Rhys Thomas, 18 Deiniol Jones, 19 Ben White, 20 Richie Rees, 21 Ceri Sweeney, 22 Tom James.