Earls and O'Connell in contention for Cup return

Coach Tony McGahan has included Paul O'Connell and Keith Earls in the Munster squad of 22 for the Heineken Cup quarter final clash with Northampton Saints at Thomond Park on Saturday.

There were contrasting indications from Limerick. Neither of them took a part in training, while the management belive that both will be in the match day 22 when it is announced on Friday.

Mick O'Driscoll and Ian Dowling are the two most likely to fill in, as they did against Leinster last Friday, if Earls and O'Connell do not come through fitness tests.

MUNSTER SQUAD (v Northampton): Marcus Horan, Dave Ryan, Julien Brugnaut, John Hayes, Tony Buckley, Denis Fogarty, Damien Varley, Jerry Flannery, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell, Mick O'Driscoll, Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, David Wallace, Nick Williams, Billy Holland, James Coughlan, Tomas O'Leary, Peter Stringer, Ronan O'Gara, Paul Warwick, Jean De Villiers, Lifeimi Mafi, Tom Gleeson, Keith Earls, Ian Dowling, Doug Howlett, Scott Deasy