It would be fair to say that this particular group of players face one of their toughest ordeals in the European theatre even at this early stage of a competition they've graced for the past decade. They arrive here with huge questions being asked of them principally because of their performance just a week ago against Leinster.

Munster: Paul Warwick; Doug Howlett, Lifeimi Mafi, Jean de Villiers, Keith Earls; Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary; Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, Tony Buckley; Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell capt; Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, Denis Leamy. Replacements: Denis Fogarty, Julien Brugnaut, Darragh Hurley, Mick O'Driscoll, Niall Ronan, Donnacha Ryan, Peter Stringer Ian Dowling.

Northampton Saints: Ben Foden; Chris Ashton,  Jon Clarke,  James Downey; Bruce Reihana, Shane Geraghty; Lee Dickson,  Soane Tongauiha, Dylan Hartley, Santiago Bonorino; Courtney Lawes, Juandre Kruger;  Phil Dowson, Neil Best,  Roger Wilson. Replacements: Brett Sharman, Regardt Dreyer, Brian Mujati, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Mark Easter, Alan Dickens, Steve Myler, Chris Mayor.