O'Connell last saw action for Munster in the final Heineken Cup Pool game against Leicester Tigers in mid-January and then went on international duty captaining Ireland in the RBS Six Nations outing against France at Croke Park before a fractured thumb ruled him out of the final game in the championship and Munster's quarter final against Llanelli Scarlets.

Carney withdrew from last weekend's game just before half time with a slight hamstring twinge but has recovered and this time around makes his fourth appearance in a Munster shirt bearing the number fifteen.

Anthony Foley was forced to withdraw from the side last Saturday shortly before kick-off with a stomach ailment but he is back in the side as is Anthony Horgan and Argentina bound Tony Buckley.

Munster: Brian Carney; Anthony Horgan, Barry Murphy, Lifeimi Mafi, Ian Dowling; Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary; Federico Pucciariello, Frank Sheahan, Tony Buckley; Mick O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell capt; Alan Quinlan, John O'Sullivan, Anthony Foley. Replacements: Denis Fogarty, Frank Roche, David Wallace, Denis Leamy, Brian O'Meara, Jeremy Manning, Mossy Lawlor.