Munster expect to use almost their entire squad for the series of matches next week against English Premiership clubs Wasps and Bath. Australian recruit Jim Williams, who injured his hand playing against the Lions and has yet to travel to Ireland, and the Lions trio of Rob Henderson, who is injured, David Wallace and Ronan O'Gara are unavailable.

Connacht's Mark McHugh, who played three times in European competition for Leinster last season, joins a batch of new signings for the western team for two short matches on Wednesday, against Leinster beginning at 5.00 p.m. and Leinster A at 6.15 p.m.

Leinster will be without a number of players: Leo Cullen is recovering well from ankle surgery while Paul Wallace is recovering from a broken leg. Lions players Brian O'Driscoll and Malcolm O'Kelly are still in Australia while Emmet Byrne is a long-term casualty with a severe shoulder injury.

Ulster face Coventry tonight in the first of the series of interprovincial friendly matches.

An amicable switch in the captaincy from David Humphreys to back row Andy Ward marks coach new coach Alan Solomons' first change to the set-up. Humphreys, who has been captain for three years, starts tonight's match on the bench in what is essentially an experimental side.

Paddy Wallace, part of Ireland's under-19 World Cup-winning side, starts at number 10, while Kieran Campbell, who moved from London to Belfast, will be scrumhalf.

Ulster (v Coventry): N Malone; S Coulter, S Stewart, J Bell (vice captain), J Cunningham; P Wallace, K Campbell; S Best, R Weir, C Boyd, M Blair, A Kearney, T McWhirter, A Ward, N Russell.