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HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALVenue: Thomond Park Date: Saturday, 10 April Kick-off: 1730 BSTCoverage: Live on Sky Sport 2. Live commentary on BBC Radio Northampton and live scores on BBC Sport website
Munster have named Keith Earls and Paul O'Connell in their side for Saturday's Heineken Cup quarter-final after both players recovered from groin injuries.James Coughlan makes his first Heineken Cup start at number eight so David Wallace moves to openside flanker.
Northampton, the only English side left, are at full strength.
Stephen Myler keeps his place at fly-half, while Dylan Hartley, Soane Tonga'uiha, Neil Best and Jon Clarke return after the win at Leeds.
Northampton beat Munster 31-27 at home but Munster won 12-9 at Thomond Park when the teams met in the pool stages earlier in the competition.
Northampton coach Dorian West has told his side to learn from that 12-9 defeat in January and feels the experience of that loss will help the Saints on Saturday.
"We learned quite a lot over the two pool games against Munster and we know we will have to be at the top of our game to cope with the occasion," said West.
"I think we are probably better prepared for this game than when we went last time. The players have trained well and there is a buzz around the club. It is going to be a massive game, but one we are looking forward to and we know we are going to have to be on top of our game."
Northampton flanker Neil Best, says despite Munster's fearsome record at Thomand Park, the Saints are not daunted about the challenge awaiting them.
"I know none of our players will be daunted by going there in the quarter-finals," said former Ulster flanker Best.
"That last match gave us a lot of confidence. The big thing is that we believe in ourselves wherever we are playing, and know we could have won that match at Thomond in January.
"All in all it is going to be a very difficult encounter, but we are also a good team.
Number eight Coughlan's previous appearances in the competition have come off the bench.
Earls' inclusion leaves the Munster backline showing just one change from the one that played the Saints in the pool stages back in January.
Earls renews his centre partnership with Jean de Villiers while Lifeimi Mafi is named on the bench.
Munster: Paul Warwick; Doug Howlett, Keith Earls, Jean de Villiers, Ian Dowling; Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary; Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes; Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell (capt); Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, James Coughlan.Replacements: Damien Varley, Julien Brugnaut, Tony Buckley, Mick O'Driscoll, Nick Williams, Niall Ronan, Peter Stringer, Lifeimi Mafi.
Northampton: Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, Jon Clarke, James Downey, Bruce Reihana, Stephen Myler, Lee ****son, Soane Tonga'uiha, Dylan Hartley (capt), Euan Murray, Courtney Lawes, Juandre Kruger, Phil Dowson, Neil Best, Roger Wilson.
Replacements:
Brett Sharman, Regardt Dreyer, Brian Mujati, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Mark Easter, Alan ****ens, Shane Geraghty, Joe Ansbro.This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Munster have named Keith Earls and Paul O'Connell in their side for Saturday's Heineken Cup quarter-final after both players recovered from groin injuries.James Coughlan makes his first Heineken Cup start at number eight so David Wallace moves to openside flanker.
Northampton, the only English side left, are at full strength.
Stephen Myler keeps his place at fly-half, while Dylan Hartley, Soane Tonga'uiha, Neil Best and Jon Clarke return after the win at Leeds.
Northampton beat Munster 31-27 at home but Munster won 12-9 at Thomond Park when the teams met in the pool stages earlier in the competition.
Northampton coach Dorian West has told his side to learn from that 12-9 defeat in January and feels the experience of that loss will help the Saints on Saturday.
"We learned quite a lot over the two pool games against Munster and we know we will have to be at the top of our game to cope with the occasion," said West.
"I think we are probably better prepared for this game than when we went last time. The players have trained well and there is a buzz around the club. It is going to be a massive game, but one we are looking forward to and we know we are going to have to be on top of our game."
Northampton flanker Neil Best, says despite Munster's fearsome record at Thomand Park, the Saints are not daunted about the challenge awaiting them. "I know none of our players will be daunted by going there in the quarter-finals," said former Ulster flanker Best.
"That last match gave us a lot of confidence. The big thing is that we believe in ourselves wherever we are playing, and know we could have won that match at Thomond in January.
"All in all it is going to be a very difficult encounter, but we are also a good team.
Number eight Coughlan's previous appearances in the competition have come off the bench.
Earls' inclusion leaves the Munster backline showing just one change from the one that played the Saints in the pool stages back in January.
Earls renews his centre partnership with Jean de Villiers while Lifeimi Mafi is named on the bench.
Munster: Paul Warwick; Doug Howlett, Keith Earls, Jean de Villiers, Ian Dowling; Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary; Marcus Horan, Jerry Flannery, John Hayes; Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell (capt); Alan Quinlan, David Wallace, James Coughlan.Replacements: Damien Varley, Julien Brugnaut, Tony Buckley, Mick O'Driscoll, Nick Williams, Niall Ronan, Peter Stringer, Lifeimi Mafi.
Northampton: Ben Foden, Chris Ashton, Jon Clarke, James Downey, Bruce Reihana, Stephen Myler, Lee ****son, Soane Tonga'uiha, Dylan Hartley (capt), Euan Murray, Courtney Lawes, Juandre Kruger, Phil Dowson, Neil Best, Roger Wilson.
Replacements:
Brett Sharman, Regardt Dreyer, Brian Mujati, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Mark Easter, Alan ****ens, Shane Geraghty, Joe Ansbro.This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.