Ronan O'Gara and Paul O'Connell will start on the bench when Munster look to get a second win on the board against the Newport-Gwent Dragons at Musgrave Park on Sunday (6pm).

Paul Warwick has been given the task of partnering scrumhalf Tomas O'Leary, while captain O'Connell is replaced by Mick O'Driscoll who takes over the leadership duties alongside Donncha O'Callaghan.

Rua Tipoki's omission from the matchday squad affords Barry Murphy the opportunity to join Lifiemi Mafi in the centre and in the back three Keith Earls swaps places with Doug Howlett to start at fullback.

Hooker Frankie Sheahan is preferred to Jerry Flannery, while prop Marcus Horan makes way for Tony Buckley as Federicco Pucciariello completes the frontrow trio.

All of which makes for a strong and experienced looking bench should things not go to plan for the European champions as they look to build on their opening day 20-15 win over Edinburgh in Murrayfield.

Dragons flanker Jamie Ringer will become only the second player to reach 100 caps for the region on Sunday.

The 32-year-old from Cardiff, who previously played for Bridgend and Neath says it will be "proud moment".

"Unfortunately last season injury held me back and allowed Adam Black to beat me to achieving the first of the region's 100 caps, but I'm thrilled to reach this milestone in my career for the Dragons and hope that there will be many more caps to follow," added Ringer.

Munster:K Earls; D Howlett, B Murphy, L Mafi, I Dowling; P Warwick, T O'Leary; F Pucciariello, F Sheahan,T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll capt; D Ryan, J O'Sullivan, D Wallace. Replacements:M Horan, J Flannery, P O'Connell, J Melck, P Stringer, R O'Gara, Denis Hurley.

Dragons:James Arlidge; Rory Sidey, Rhodri Gomer Davies, Ashley Smith, Tal Selley; Shaun Connor, Wayne Evans; Hugh Gustafson, Tom Willis (capt), Rhys Thomas; Adam Jones, Luke Charteris; Dan Lydiate, Jamie Ringer, Grant Webb. Replacements:Steve Jones, Adam Black, Gethin Robinson, Adam Brown, Joe Bearman, Richard Fussell, Rob Lewis