Northampton Saints ruled themsleves out of the equation with defeat in Glasgow and then Montpelier claimed one of the two 'best runner-up spots' with a win over Toulon before the Leinster game in Exeter.

And that proved to be a real cracker before Leinster did the business with a bonus point win that leaves Munster needing to deliver a four try victory over Racing Metro in what promimises to be a heaving Thomond Park Stadium later today.

They'll face a much changed Metro side who are out of contention yet with players who will be hoping to use this opportunity to impress Racing 'owner/trainer/jockey' Jacky Lorenzetti ahead of an expected clear-out of players at the end of the season. Olly Barkley will certainly be hoping to do enough to encourage Lorenzetti to take his eyes off Johnny Sexton in the hope it's remembered the role the Englishman played in Munster 's demise in the opening game.

In answer to the question where the tries will come from Munster know it's a case of making the most of the opportunities they are creating but first and foremost they must win the uoront battle and do what they did first of all in Murrayfield - winning the game - before they go about ending Leinster's campaign and putting them in pole to winning a place in the quarters ahead of the Leicester/Toulouse game later.

Munster: F Jones; D Howlett capt, K Earls, J Downey, S Zebo; Ian Keatley, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, M Sherry, BJ Botha; D O'Callaghan, D Ryan; P O'Mahony, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan. Replacements: D Varley, W du Preez, J Ryan, B Holland, P Butler, D Williams, JJ Hanrahan, C Laulala.