Buckley hasn't started for Munster since the game against Connacht at The Sporsground at the end of December, illness ruling him out of consideration for the games against Ulster, Ospreys, Sale and Montauban and as a result therefore a possible place in Declan Kidney's RBS Six Nations squad.

After his two most recent outings from the bench, in the absence of David Wallace, Niall Ronan occupies the open side flanker berth with Nick Williams set for just his second start in the number 8 jersey while there is a distinctly youthful look to the Munster replacements bench with Michael Essex, Billy Holland, Darragh Hurley and Jeremy Manning all set to play a role as the League leaders look to maintain their place at the head of affairs.

Munster: Denis Hurley; Dough Howlett, Keith Earls, Lifeimi Mafi, Ciaran O'Boyle; Paul Warwick, Peter Stringer; Federico Pucciariello, Denis Fogarty, Tony Buckley; Mick O'Driscoll capt, Donnacha Ryan; Denis Leamy, Niall Ronan, Nick Williams. Replacements: Michael Essex, Darragh Hurley, Billy Holland, Alan Quinlan, Mike Prendergast, Jeremy Manning, Kieran Lewis.