O'Connell and Earls still out for Munster

Munster coach Tony McGahan has selected his strongest possible side for Saturday's crucial Magners League clash with Ospreys at Thomond Park Stadium (6.30pm).

Captain Paul O'Connell and Keith Earls are struggling to master respective groin injuries and Tony Buckley has failed to recover from a knee injury picked up in the game against Connacht.

Nonetheless, Ronan O’Gara will retain the captaincy with Scott Deasy selected out of position on the left wing. Ireland U20 wing Simon Zebo is also retained in the match day 22, named on the bench alongside Denis Hurley who returns from injury.

Meanwhile Ireland wing Tommy Bowe returns to The Ospreys team.

There are a host of Wales internationals back in what is their strongest possible line-up with the exception of Alun-Wyn Jones, who is on the bench.

Lee Byrne, Shane Williams, James Hook, Mike Phillips and the quickly improving Dan Biggar are part of a formidable backline.

Number eight Ryan Jones is also back to lead the side with Jerry Collins and Marty Holah for company in the back row.

MUNSTER (v Ospreys): P Warwick; T Gleeson, L Mafi, J De Villiers, S Deasy; R O'Gara (capt), T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll, A Quinlan, D Wallace, J Coughlan.

Replacements: D Varley, J Brugnaut, B Holland, N Ronan, P Stringer, D Hurley, S Zebo.

THE OSPREYS (v Munster): Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe. Andrew Bishop, James Hook, Shane Williams, Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Ian Gough, Jonathan Thomas, Jerry Collins. Marty Holah. Ryan Jones (Capt).

Replacements: Ed Shervington, Ryan Bevington, Alun Wyn Jones, Filo Tiatia, Jamie Nutbrown, Sonny Parker, Nikki Walker.