Cardiff v Munster:While their performances in the Magners League have not as been as Herculean as their battles in the Heineken European Cup, this is a Munster side that, if they have designs on the championship, must be expected to take something back from Wales. That is today's demand even if Cardiff have lost just once, at home to Edinburgh, since September of last year. Just ahead of Cardiff on the table, Munster have been able to lose fewer matches (three) than Cardiff (five) but the Welsh side have been keeping pace by accumulating bonus points (five to Munster's three). Munster are third-placed on the table to Cardiff's fourth but the teams remain equal on points, 29 each.
Importantly at 10, Cardiff have installed their young outhalf Rhys Jones, who will be making his first start for the side. Jones, who arrived from Sale Sharks on a season-long loan in December, first featured in Cardiff's 11-6 win over the Dragons on St Stephen's Day but has since had to make do with a place on the bench.
That should be good news for Paul Warwick, who partners scrumhalf Peter Stringer in the Munster midfield.
Stringer is joined by second-in-command on the Ireland side and captain today, Paul O'Connell, who makes his first Magners League start in months following a satisfactory recovery from a back injury.
O'Connell is also hoping to use this game to prove his fitness and form to Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan before next week's meeting with Wales in the Six Nations Championship.
Ian Dowling is excluded from the Munster selection after a knock in the Ireland A mauling last week, while Barry Murphy and Mossie Lawlor are nursing injuries, as are centre Rua Tipoki and hooker Jerry Flannery. Tipoki strained his back this week, while Flannery tweaked a hamstring on coming back from a hand injury.
Munster arrive having won five of their last six matches in all competitions and though shorn of their front-line Ireland players still field a well-balanced side.
Kieron Lewis slots in for Tipoki with Lifemi Mafi, Doug Howlett and Brian Carney either side, while the pack has Frankie Sheahan, Tony Buckley, O'Connell, Alan Quinlan and Anthony Foley for a mix of muscle, guile and experience.
For the home side, Deiniol Jones returns from international duty to partner Paul Tito in the second row, and Robin Sowden-Taylor wears the number seven jersey. Jamie Robinson and Gareth Thomas form a formidable centre partnership, while Ben Blair slots in at fullback.
With Leinster facing Connacht last night in Galway and Ulster facing second-placed Scarlets at Ravenhill, this weekend's results could have a profound effect on the make up of the top-four places.
"They are just ahead of us in the league so it's an important game for both sides," said Cardiff coach David Young. "It is also a game either team could win, but we are determined to get the right result to keep us in the title race."
So too are Munster.
MUNSTER: S Payne; B Carney, K Lewis, M Lifeimi, D Howlett; P Warwick, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, F Sheahan, T Buckley, D Ryan, P O'Connell, A Quinlan, N Ronan, A Foley. Replacements: E McGovern, D Fogerty, M Melbourne, J O'Sullivan, J Coughlan, T O'Leary, J Manning.
CARDIFF: B Blair; T Selley, J Robinson, G Thomas, J Roberts; R Jones, R Rees; J Yapp, R Thomas, G Powell, D Jones, P Tito, M Molitika, R Taylor, X Rush (capt). Replacements: T Filise, G Williams, S Morgan, B White, J Spice, N McLeod, D Hewitt.
Referee: Peter Allan (Scotland).
Verdict: Munster win
