RUGBY:MUNSTER ARE in the curious position of being nine points clear at the top of the table but arrive in Wales having lost on their last five visits. Doubtlessly that was in coach Tony McGahan's mind as he brings in Keith Earls, Ronan O'Gara, Denis Leamy and Paul O'Connell fresh from Ireland's win against England last week.

Earls is in his more familiar position on the left wing, with Felix Jones at fullback, while Conor Murray is preferred to Peter Stringer as scrumhalf partner to O’Gara. O’Connell and Mick O’Driscoll form the secondrow and there is no room for John Hayes, with Tony Buckley, Damien Varley and Wian du Preez forming the frontrow.

“Conor has been a consistent member of the senior squad in training over the past 12 months because of international call-ups and injuries to our halfback position,” said McGahan on leaving Stringer out. “In this time he has gathered valuable training experiences from the more senior players in the squad.

“He impressed the coaching staff and fellow players with an enthusiastic and mature display in his first professional start and deserves to be in the mix competing with Peter and Duncan (Williams) for game time with Tomás’s (O’Leary) unfortunate bout of injuries.”

Cardiff also have their international contingent back, with John Yapp, Leigh Halfpenny, Bradley Davies, Jamie Roberts and Dan Parks all returning to the squad.

But the Blues are without Sam Warburton. The flanker sustained a knee injury in the defeat to France last Saturday and is expected to be out for between four to six weeks. Parks is on the bench with other heavy-hitters such as Mama Molitika.

Cardiff have lost only once in their last six matches, in Belfast, while Munster have lost only one Magners League game since November, in Treviso. But their only previous win on Cardiff ground in the league was back in the Arms Park in 2005.

“They are very physical, they do the basics really well and I think they have a squad that is as strong as anyone’s in the League,” said Cardiff director of rugby David Young. “That’s why they are always at the top. There is competition for places in their team and that keeps everyone on their toes.”

Munster can expect to face considerable muscle up front, with Xavier Rush and Martyn Williams in the backrow and plenty of fizz backing it up, with Halfpenny and Casey Laulala on the wing and in the centre.

CARDIFF: C Czekj; R Mustoe, C Laulala, D Hewitt, L Halfpenny; C Sweeney, L Williams; J Yapp, R Williams, S Andrews, M Paterson, P Tito (capt), A Pretorius, M Williams, X Rush. Replacements: K Dacey, N Trevett, S Hobbs, B Davies, M Molitika, T Slater, D Parks.

MUNSTER: F Jones; D Howlett, J Murphy, L Lifeimi, K Earls; R O’Gara, C Murray; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley, P O’Connell (capt), M O’Driscoll, J Coughlan, N Ronan, D Leamy. Replacements: M Sherry, M Horan, S Archer, D Ryan, P O’Mahony, P Stringer, S Tuitupou, D Cusack.

Referee: A Lewis (Ireland).