Horan in squad to face Northampton

Ireland loose-head Marcus Horan has been included in an extended 28-man Munster squad as they prepare for Friday night’s Heineken Cup encounter with Northampton Saints at Thomond Park.

It is expected that Munster coach Tony McGahan will go with the same side that inflicted a bonus-point humiliation on Treviso last Saturday.

The only bone of contention is whether Jean de Villiers and Keith Earls should hold out Lifeimi Mafi in midfield.

MUNSTER SQUAD (v Northampton):

BACKS: Wian Du Preez, Julien Brugnaut, Stephen Archer, John Hayes, Marcus Horan, Tony Buckley, Denis Fogarty, Damien Varley, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Donnacha Ryan, James Coughlan, Mick O'Driscoll, Billy Holland, Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, David Wallace;

FORWARDS: Tomas O'Leary, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, Jean De Villiers, Keith Earls, Tom Gleeson, Lifeimi Mafi, Doug Howlett, Ian Dowling, Denis Hurley, Paul Warwick.