Munster coach Declan Kidney has left a vacancy at full back in the hope that Dominic Crotty will be fit in time for Sunday's European Cup clash with Saracens at Vicarage Road. The Garryowen full back missed the victory over Pontypridd and the previous game against Connacht with a toe injury.
Despite extensive treatment, the damage has taken longer to heal than originally anticipated. Given the latitude offered by a Sunday match, Kidney need not make an immediate decision. His options are limited somewhat by an injury to centre Cian Mahony.
The Cork Constitution player started the Pontypridd game with a calf strain and managed two-thirds of the match before coming off. The problem has responded well to treatment, but Kidney prefers to allow him to fully rehabilitate himself before pressing him into action.
Mike Mullins, who played full back the last day, is named alongside Killian Keane in the centre. If Crotty failed to recover, he could return to full back with John Kelly switching to the centre and John O'Neill coming in on the right wing. Alternatively, Garryowen's Jeremy Staunton could come in at full back with Mullins remaining in the centre.
There is still some doubt about replacement hooker Frankie Sheahan's fitness, so Shannon's Mark McDermott prepares to deputise for a second match.
Saracens are likely to have two Irish internationals in their ranks, tight-head prop Paul Wallace and left wing Darragh O'Mahony. Wallace's battle with Peter Clohessy, with whom he plays in the national side, should be an "interesting" tussle.
Kidney conceded that his charges relished the prospect of taking on the multi-national Saracens.
"They are the sort of matches for which you go into Europe. We have to try and do something in one of our three away matches and this is the first of those. It'll be difficult given their obvious quality."
Ulster welcome back internationals Jonathan Bell and Andy Ward for tomorrow night's crucial European Cup game against London Wasps at Ravenhill. Both missed Ulster's 26-12 defeat against Bourgoin at the Stade Pierre Rajon through injury.
Bell has recovered from a thumb problem and partners Jan Cunningham in the centre, Niall Malone drops to the bench. Ward displayed no ill-effects in training from the hairline fracture of the foot that sidelined him for the Bourgoin match.
He replaces Dion O'Cuinneagain, the Irish captain who is likely to be out of commission for the next two weeks after popping the A/C joint in his shoulder. There is one further alteration to the side with Mark Blair chosen in the second row ahead of Gary Longwell. The latter is included among the replacements.
Conor O'Shea is back to lead London Irish in their European Shield Pool G match against Agen on Saturday evening. The Ireland full back, ruled out of London Irish's outstanding 3721 victory over 1997 European Cup champions Brive, has recovered from flu and plays on the left wing.
In the only other change, Western Samoan number eight Isaac Feaunati makes his first appearance of the season for London Irish as they go for back-to-back wins over top French opposition.
But Niall Woods, Brendan Venter, Kevin Putt, James Brown, Mike Howe, Richard Kirke and Ben Whetstone are all ruled out through injury.
The Teams Munster: A N Other; J Kelly, M Mullins, K Keane, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; P Clohessy, K Wood, J Hayes; M Galwey (capt), J Langford; A Quinlan, A Foley, D Wallace. Replacements: M Horan, F Sheahan or M McDermott, D O'Callaghan, E Halvey, T Tierney, J Holland, (from) D Crotty, J Staunton, J O'Neill.
Ulster: S Mason; J Topping, J Cunningham, J Bell, S Bromley; D Humphreys (capt), S Bell; J Fitzpatrick, A Clarke, J Veitayaki; P Johns, M Blair; E Miller, T McWhirter, A Ward. Replacements: T Howe, N Malone, M Edwards, D Topping, G Longwell, S Best, R Weir.
