Ian Dowling and Doug Howlett retain their places but Barry Murphy teams up with fellow Limerickman Keith Earls in the centre while Denis Hurley takes up position at full-back. 

Meanwhile Connacht have made one change to their side for the trip to Limerick with Troy Nathan coming  into the backline to form a new centre partnership alongside Niva Ta'auso for the first time but they have yet to confirm the composition of their pack.

Munster: D Hurley; D Howlett, B Murphy, K Earls, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, D Fogarty, T Buckley; M O'Driscoll capt, D Ryan; N Williams, N Ronan, D Leamy. Replacements: M Essex, M Horan, B Holland, D Wallace, T O'Leary, R O'Gara, L Mafi.

Connacht: G Duffy; F Carr, N Ta'auso, T Nathan, L Bibo; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Loughney; A Browne/M Swift, A Farley; J Muldoon (C), J O'Connor, C Rigney/R Ofisa. Replacements: A Flavin, B McGovern, M Swift/D Gannon, C Rigney/D Nolan, C O'Loughlin, A Dunne, M Deane.