And when it resumes in February, the Anthony Foley/Ian Costello coached side will set out their stall against Nottingham Rugby who trail them by just one point, at a home venue yet to be decided.  That game will go a long way in deciding who emerges from this group to the April semi-finals.

Nottingham opened with a 5-0 win away to Heriots and followed that up with a  hard fought 14-3 win at home to Neath. After the Nottingham game, Munster have to travel to The Gnoll and wind up the Pools stage with a home tie against Heriots.

Meanwhile, the resumption of the Magners League next weekend offers Tony McGahan the perfect lead-in to the crucial back-to back Heineken Cup games  against Perpignan.

McGahan has organised a two day camp for the squad in Tipperary and tomorrow the players will be introduced to newest arrival Wian du Preez who joins on a 3 month contract until the end of January. The Springboks prop comes in to shore up the loose head position although the news on one of the players he's covering for, Marcus Horan, is good in that he has resumed light training after his successful medical procedure.