John Kelly who was on the bench in Swansea is brought into the side and plays on the right wing which means that Shaun Payne switches to outside centre and he will be partnered by Jason Holland, another bench replacement from last week.

James Storey drops to the bench and with Gaffney obviously anxious to get game-time into his squad Rob Henderson is promoted to the bench at the expense of Mike Mullins.

Paul Burke who was forced off in the course of the game against Ospreys with a head wound has shown no ill effects and he resumes at out-half.

It's a case of as you were up front with Gaffney keeping faith with the pack that started the game in St Helens but injury to Mike Storey means a place on the bench for Eugene McGovern who won his first and so far only cap for Munster last November.

Munster (v Connacht, Musgrave Park, 8.05): C Cullen; J Kelly, S Payne, J Holland, A Horgan; P Burke, M Prendergast; F Roche, J Flannery, G McIlwham; S O'Connor, T Hogan; S Keogh, D Leamy, J Williams (capt). Replacements. J Blaney, E McGovern, D Ryan, J O'Connor, E Reddan, J Storey, R Henderson.