Munster coach Declan Kidney has been forced to reshuffle his deck again and plan with the Heineken European Cup in mind as he approaches the end of a gruelling Christmas schedule and a Celtic League clash with Newport-Gwent Dragons..
Friday's match at Rodney Parade will be Munster's third in nine days, and comes sshortly before back-to-back Heineken Cup games.
Kidney registered his displeasure with the schedule at the weekend, claiming such intensity was not "right for a player's career at this stage, especially guys who are trying to go and play Six Nations."
For fringe players however the crammed itinerary means another opportunity.
In the frontrow there is now a chance for former England Under 21 hooker Andy Kyriacou and Cork born prop Tony Buckley to impress, as both start beside Marcus Horan.
The secondrow is without the familiar pairing of Donncha O'Callaghan and Paul O'Connell and is instead manned by Nenagh's Donnacha Ryan and Mick O'Driscoll, who may still have one eye on a bit-part role in this year's Six Nations.
The backrow looks largely familiar with Denis Leamy and Anthony Foley returning after missing the win over Connacht, while 26-year-old Kerryman John O'Sullivan retains his place after impressing at the Sportsground. A shoulder injury means David Wallace will sit this one out.
Having shown some outstanding form against Connacht Tomas O'Leary starts this week at scrumhalf alongside Jeremy Manning, affording the Ireland pairing of Peter Stringer and Ronan O'Gara a rest before the tests of Bourgoin and Leicester.
Winger Atnhony Horgan returns having trained without a hitch and will man the backline with Christian Cullen at fullback and Barry Murphy on the right wing.
Ian Dowling returns to partner Lifeimi Mafi in the centre.
The Dragons are unchanged in the backline but there are two changes to the pack with Colin Charvis coming in for Joe Bearman and Michael Owen at No.8 for Nic Fitisemanu.
Munster Team: 1 - Marcus Horan, 2 - Andy Kyriacou, 3 - Tony Buckley, 4 - Donnacha Ryan, 5 - Mick O'Driscoll, 6 - John O'Sullivan, 7 - Denis Leamy, 8 - Anthony Foley (captain), 9 - Tomas O'Leary, 10 - Jeremy Manning, 11 - Ian Dowling, 12 - Lifeimi Mafi, 13 - Barry Murphy, 14 - Anthony Horgan, 15 - Christian Cullen
Replacements: 16 - Federico Pucciariello, 17 - Eugene McGovern, 18 - Paul O'Connell, 19 - James Coughlan, 20 - Brian O'Meara, 21 - E
Dragons Team:15 - Kevin Morgan, 14 - Gareth Wyatt, 13 - Paul Emerick, 12 - Ashley Smith, 11 - Aled Brew, 10 - Ceri Sweeney, 9 - Gareth Cooper, 1 - Adam Black, 2 - Ben Daly, 3 - Lee Harrison, 4 - Ian Gough, 5 - Luke Charteris / Peter Sidoli, 6 - Colin Charvis, 7 - Jamie Ringer, 8 - Michael Owen
Replacements: 16 - Kieran Crawford, 17 - Dai Maddocks, 18 - Andrew Hall, 19 - Nic Fitisemanu, 20 - Gareth Chapman, 21 - Mike Hercus, 22 - Alex Walker
