Celtic League Previews/Llanelli v Munster: This is one where both teams are in danger of putting together an unwanted streak. Munster and Llanelli have lost their previous two Celtic League matches - Munster to Glasgow and Ulster; Llanelli to Ulster and Connacht. Munster travelled to Ulster three weeks ago greatly depleted, however. Not so today.
The Munster team is how it will probably look facing Perpignan in the European Cup quarter-final next week and so this is one of their most important league games this season.
A raft of international players are back, the Irish pack effectively moving en masse from Eddie O'Sullivan to Declan Kidney. All, of course, except Simon Easterby, who just happens to be the Llanelli captain.
One place has been left vacant in the backrow, which might be filled by Mick O'Driscoll.
Flanker Denis Leamy is not named in the side as he continues to struggle with injury.
Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara resume at halfback while the versatile and speedy Tomás O'Leary steps to outside centre. Trevor Halstead provides the bulk in the middle while the unlucky Barry Murphy remains sidelined with a broken leg.
John Kelly and Ian Dowling are on the wings, with Shaun Payne at fullback.
Three long-time casualties, Mike Mullins, Jeremy Manning and the former All Black Christian Cullen, are on the bench.
The sides have been evenly matched historically, their past six encounters in Celtic League and Cup providing three wins apiece. Ominously, Munster's only win at Stradey Park (20-13) was back in August 2002.
The Welsh team make three changes to the team that beat Bath in the Powergen Cup semi-final. Loosehead prop Phil John makes his first appearance since neck surgery last October, while winger Tal Selley and number eight Dafydd Jones also come in. Selley, back from the Commonwealth Games sevens, replaces Mark Jones, who has had knee surgery. Scrumhalf Dwayne Peel (shoulder) is still sidelined.
It is difficult to see how any club side can live with the Munster pack and in that respect it's up to Kidney's team to capitalise. While Munster have struggled in Stradey Park in the past and Llanelli are brimming with confidence, Kidney and his team have extra incentive this time - the need to show good form going into their Lansdowne Road match against Perpignan.
For that reason they can be expected to avenge the 32-17 suffered the last time they played in Stradey Park, January 2005.
LLANELLI: B Davies; T Selley, M Watkins, R King, D James; M Hercus, C Stuart-Smith; P John, M Rees, J Davies; I Akeaki, A Jones; S Easterby (capt), G Thomas, D Jones. Replacements: I Thomas, C Hawkins, V Cooper, G Quinnell, L Davies, C Thomas,
MUNSTER: S Payne; J Kelly, T O'Leary, T Halstead, I Dowling; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; AN Other, D Wallace, A Foley (capt). Replacements: D Fogarty, F Pucciariello, T Hogan, J O'Sullivan, J Manning, M Mullins, C Cullen.
Referee: Rob Dickson (SRU).
