Munster v Llanelli:At the time of writing this preview, the result of last night's Ireland v France encounter was unclear so one hopes the light-hearted comments of Munster coach Declan Kidney do not resonate further. "We have to be aware of the difference in physicality of the pre-season games to the competitive ones. Consider then we are going in against a side that has two competitive matches under their belt already.

"The players have trained really hard. Pre-season has gone well. The trip to the States went well both on and off the field and that was important.

"But then it's important we don't to do what I'd call a France on it. That is, have a good preseason and then not turn up on the day, on Saturday night."

This fixture is an ideal start for Munster, what with the memory of their comprehensive defeat to the Scarlets in last season's European Cup still lingering, but of course it is a markedly different team with eight new recruits in the match day 22.

Along with Academy graduates, the two Leinster exiles - Kieran Lewis and Niall Ronan - and former Maori captain, Rua Tipoki, provide the most interesting sideshow.

The Tipoki-Lewis midfield is being primed to open avenues for Doug Howlett to exploit once the Kiwi arrives after the World Cup. Llanelli's Regan King, another former All Black, will provide a stern test of this fledgling partnership. Connacht signing Paul Warwick starts at outhalf and Munster will adopt a more expansive approach after the forwards set the platform. Munster to edge it.

MUNSTER: S Payne; I Dowling, K Lewis, R Tipoki, A Horgan; P Warwick, T O'Leary; F Pucciariello, D Fogarty, T Buckley; M Melbourne, M O'Driscoll; B Holland, N Ronan, A Foley (capt). Replacements: D Hurley, S Cronin, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan, G Hurley, J Manning, L Mafi.

LLANELLI SCARLETS: M Stoddart; G Evans, R King, G Evans, M Watkins; R Prietland, G Cattle; I Thomas, J Hayter, B Douglas; V Cooper, A Eustace; D Jones, J Bater (capt), N Thomas. Replacements: B Broster, K Owens, L Reed, J Edwards, L Davies, D Evans, J Davies.

Referee: P Allan (SRU).