Zebo in line for his first appearance in Europe since return

MUNSTER are already through and come kickoff will know exactly what they will require to secure third place in Pool B.

The home and away double over Castres, added to the thrilling win away to Wasps in their opening game, has left them well placed. A top-four seeding would earn Munster the advantage of having their second leg in the Round of 16 at Thomond Park in the third weekend in April when crowds are likely to be back.

Munster defeated Wasps 35-14 in their Champions Cup opener last month despite having to include five debutants following the Covid-19 outbreak which caused 14 players and staff to test positive during the squad's abandoned United Rugby Championship trip to South Africa.

Munster retain only seven players from that makeshift starting lineup in Coventry six weeks ago as Johan van Graan makes three changes from last weekend’s away win over Castres.

Diarmuid Barron comes in for the injured Niall Scannell, with the try-scoring man-of-thematch in Coventry, Scott Buckley, on the bench.

Ben Healy is restored at outside-half after being unavailable last week, taking over from Jack Crowley, with Jean Kleyn replacing Fineen Wycherley in the second row.

Simon Zebo is in line for his first appearance in Europe since rejoining from Racing 92 after being recalled to the matchday squad.

Dave Kilcoyne will become the 12th Munster player to make his 200th appearance for the Irish province when he starts today’s game.

Munster have lost only two of their 26 home games against Premiership clubs in the pool stage of the Champions Cup, winning the other 24, and both of those were against Leicester.