Sheahan made his Heineken Cup debut in September 1997 and has scored eight tries in that competition. He missed almost all of last season after suffering a neck injury in the opening Heineken Cup game against Sale Sharks but returned to the Munster side this year and has started in 12 of Munster 16 games to date.

Also included in the match day squad for the first time this season is Jerry Flannery and with Trevor Halstead unavailable through injury Lifeimi Mafi is set to partner Barry Murphy in the centre.

Munster have yest to finalise their back-row. They wait on Denis Leamy who was forced out of the side for the game against The Dragons last weekend  having picked up a stomach bug. Leamy has recovered and travels with the squad but management will wait as long as possible before deciding on his readiness and the composition of the back-row.

Jeremy Manning has recovered from a shoulder knock to take his place on the bench alongside Tomas O'Leary and Christian Cullen

Munster: S Payne; J Kelly, B Murphy, L Mafi, I Dowling; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell capt; D Leamy/M O'Driscoll, D Wallace, A Foley/D Leamy. Replacements: J Flannery, F Pucciariello, J Coughlan, Foley/Leamy/O'Driscoll, /C Wyatt, T O'Leary, J Manning, C Cullen.