Munster unchanged for visit of Castres

Perhaps unsurprisingly Tony McGahan keeps faith with the same 23 that delivered the bonus point win last weekend, for tomorrow's crucial Heineken Cup clash with Castres Olympique.

O'Connell took little part in the field session this weeks as he nursed a gash on his knee. Niall Ronan was another forced to take it easy having come off early last weekend although he did train today in Musgrave Park.

Depending on how things go in the Scarlets/Northampton game in Parc Y Scarlets, a win tomorrow could secure qualification before Munster have to face Jim Mallinder’s side.

If Munster win and Scarlets lose, or if Scarlets win without the bonus, then McGahan's side are through to the quarter finals.

But Ronan accepts that as things stand, they are guaranteed nothing yet.

“Of course the expectation is there among the supporters. We're at home, top of the group and all that. But we know we still have to put in a performance.

“We don't know what sort of a side they'll send over but we do know they're not going to come over and roll over. And it they get momentum get their tails up we know what they're capable of doing."

Munster: D Hurley; J Murphy, K Earls, L Mafi, S Zebo; R O'Gara, C Murray; W du Preez, D Varley, BJ Botha; D Ryan, P O'Connell capt; P O'Mahony, N Ronan, J Coughlan.

Replacements: D Fogarty, M Horan, S Archer, D O'Callaghan, B Holland, T O'Leary, I Keatley, D Barnes.