Tough One On Saturday For Munster.

Next weekend will be a crucial one in Celtic League terms as Munster cling to hopes of capturing the League title. They travel to the Arms Park to take on Cardiff Blues.

Next weekend will be a crucial one in Celtic League terms as Munster cling to hopes of capturing the League title. While they travel to Cardiff for what will be a desperately tough encounter, the leaders, Neath-Swansea Ospreys are in Dublin (Sunday) to play Leinster.

Although they have a game in hand, Munster are eight points behind the leaders and need others to do them favours if they are to overhaul Ospreys. If Leinster don t grant them this one, Munster s title hopes will virtually disappear.

But never mind what others do Munster have enough to concentrate on with their own performance. On a good day, it s hard enough win at The Arms Park and last time they visited they suffered a record 60-14 defeat. A reprise of their last Celtic League performance (v Glasgow) and the result from Donnybrook a day later will be of little interest to Munster.

They will be without their Irish international contingent save for Marcus Horan and Frank Sheahan and must do without Donncha O Callaghan who has been called up to play in the North v South game the same day.

Denis Leamy is still out with a hamstring injury but Shaun Payne, who missed the Glasgow game will be back.

With O Callaghan missing, Tom Bowman will partner Trevor Hogan in the second row behind Horan, Sheahan and Gordon McIlwham, with Alan Quinlan, Jim Williams and David Wallace in the back-row.

Mike Prendergast might be favoured over Eoin Reddan for the number nine shirt, Paul Burke will be ten and Christian Cullen will wear 15.

Anthony Horgan will be on one wing and with Mossie Lawlor ruled out by long-term injury, John Kelly and Paul Devlin look the contenders for the other wing position. Should they opt for Devlin on one wing then Kelly, Rob Henderson and Jason Holland will wrest for the centre berths.

Munster are expected to name their side tomorrow (Thursday).