After a week at Lake Garda, Munster will bid to continue their perfect start to the season against Treviso this weekend – but Paul O’Connell has been quick to warn against complacency.

Last season was a period of transition for Munster as they failed to reach the RaboDirect PRO12 play-offs but this time around they have impressed in Rob Penney’s second season at the helm.

They followed up a thumping win against Edinburgh by hitting 40 points against Zebre – although they were trailing at half-time – and they remained in Italy to prepare for this weekend’s clash.

Munster are bidding to become the first side ever to begin a RaboDirect PRO12 season with three maximum point victories but Treviso have won two of their six clashes with the Irish province.

Munster's only victory in the competition at Stadio Monigo came in February 2012 but Peter O’Mahony will kick off his season as captain as they try to achieve a second.

O’Mahony is joined by Munster Lion Simon Zebo while Keith Earls is also named on the wing for the first time since sustaining a shoulder injury against Clermont at the end of April.

There is a new look back-row with O'Mahony joining Niall Ronan and James Coughlan in the back three. Tommy O'Donnell is out of the squad following a knee injury sustained in last Friday's fixture against Zebre.

In rotating the squad Penney has opted with new half-backs this week with Duncan Williams and Ian Keatley replacing Cathal Sheridan and JJ Hanrahan in the starting line-up.

O’Connell, who broke his arm during the British & Irish Lions’ first Test this summer, is still not quite back to full fitness but the 33-year-old believes it won’t be long before he returns to what he hopes will still be an unbeaten team.

"It's a good start but it's important for everyone to remember they (Edinburgh and Zebre) are not the strongest two teams in the competition," he said.

"We have Leinster, two ERC games and then Glasgow coming up.

"That's a big four-week spell for us and we'll get a better feel for where we are after those games."

Treviso were defeated at home to Ospreys in round one and away at Scarlets in round two, but have not lost three games in a row since last November while they have drawn their last two matches with Irish provinces.

For Treviso, Luke McLean moves to full-back as Christian Loamanu comes onto the wing while Michele Campagnaro partners Alberto Sgarbi in the centres.

Mat Berquist makes his first start at fly-half while Edoardo Gori is at scrum-half and in the pack, Manoa Vosawai returns at No.8, Simone Favaro plays at flanker and Marco Fuser is named in the second row.

Tighthead Alberto De Marchi, hooker Enrico Ceccato and loosehead Michele Rizzo make up the front row.

At Stadio Monigo, 8.30pm local time (7.30pm Ireland & UK).
Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU, 30th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Claudio Blessano, Filippo Navarra (both FIR)
Citing Commissioner: Alberto Recaldini (FIR)
TMO: Mauro Dordolo (FIR)

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