Neath v Munster St Helen's, 5.30Outhalf Conrad O'Sullivan and David Pusey in the second row, the two new faces in this week's Munster line-up, face a Neath side that will be well wound up after their defeat to Leinster in Donnybrook last week.
As Munster seek to maintain their well-earned reputation as one of the best sides in Europe in their third Celtic League match of the series, Neath will want to hold their position on the current table - one place above the Irish province.
Former Ireland under-21 O'Sullivan goes in for the injured Jason Holland while Pusey claims his place in the second row alongside Eddie Halvey in the only change to the pack. Having arrived in Ireland just a week ago, the Australian's reputation has already won over coach Alan Gaffney.
Neath make three changes to the team that lost to Leinster 35-21, all of them in the front eight. James Bater comes in at blindside for Steve Tandy and in the second row Luke Tait replaces Lyndon Bateman. Hooker against Leinster, Chris Wells also makes way for Barry Williams.
The combative Scott Gibbs again captains the side at inside centre in a match the Ospreys will view as a repeat of last year's Celtic Cup final against Neath (even though it arrived before the wholesale amalgamation of clubs into districts), which illustrated the gulf between the Welsh sides and Munster.
The home team have a young side with potential and believe they have better individual players.
That point is debatable but what Munster have produced more than any other team in the competition is a collective force. At home or away, the team is always better than the sum of its parts. Both teams need the win to keep a foot inside the top third of the league. Munster have the experience and individual talent in Jeremey Staunton, David Wallace and Denis Leamy and if they can combine both they can win.
NEATH OSPREYS: G Henson; D Tiuete, J Storey, S Gibbs (capt), E Seveali'l; S Connor, A Williams; P James, B Williams, A Millward, A Newman, L Tait, G Thomas, J Bater, N Bonner-Evans. Replacements: G Morris, A Durston, R Richards, C Wells, S Tandy, L Bateman, C Griffiths.
MUNSTER: J Staunton; M Lawlor, M Mullins, J Jones-Hughes, S Payne; C O'Sullivan, E Reddan; S Kerr, J Flannery, M Cahill, E Halvey, D Pusey, D Leamy, D Wallace, J Williams. Replacements: F Roche/A Long, J Danaher, T Hogan, C McMahon, S Keogh, M Prendergast, M Mc Phail, D Crotty.
Referee: R Dickson (Scotland)
