Leinster will be a tougher proposition for their defeat to Connacht according to Munster scrum-half Conor Murray.

The clash at the Aviva Stadium pits second-placed Leinster and fourth-placed Munster against one another, and with just four rounds of action remaining, play-off places are on the line.

And the Dublin side come into the game having lost their last match at Connacht, 7-6, and desperate to avoid a second successive Interpro defeat.

Murray, who comes into Munster’s starting lineup having come off the bench last week, is expecting a backlash from Leinster.

He said: "We were all watching their game against Connacht, I think we were all on our couches watching it and we realise how much tougher it’s going to be.

"Obviously, the coaches will try and guide us and tell us what’s going to be tougher this week but we’ve all played in these games, we know it’s going to go up a level and they will be battle hardened. So we’ve got to get it mentally right and not expect the same as last weekend.

"I think that’s going to stand to them more so than the game against Zebre will stand to us. It would probably be easy to fall in love with yourself after running in seven tries. You’ve just got to be mindful of the opposition. Zebre did start well but eventually we did break them down and things seemed to flow quite easily from then on.

"They won’t flow as easily against Leinster. If you do manage to go a score ahead they’re going to come back swinging for the full 80-plus minutes so we’ve got to be careful not to trick ourselves into thinking we’re that fantastic yet.

"We know there’s a much tougher task ahead this weekend.”

Munster saw off Zebre 47-0 last weekend, but Anthony Foley has made five changes to the team that won at Thomond Park.

CJ Stander and James Cronin come into the pack, while Murray, Andrew Conway and Francis Saili all start in the backline.

Leinster have been even more emphatic with their overhaul, as nine new faces come into the run-on team.

Jonathan Sexton returns having been rested last week and starts in a new half-back pairing with Eoin Reddan.

The other changes in the backs see Zane Kirchner return at full-back, with Isa Nacewa shifting to the wing, opposite Dave Kearney.

Up front Jack McGrath and Sean Cronin come into the front row, while Devin Toner, Jordi Murphy and Jamie Heaslip are also added to the pack.

And Rhys Ruddock, who is shifting from No.8 to blindside flanker expects a tough task from Munster after their recent games.

"They seem to be playing good rugby the last number of weeks,” Ruddock said of Munster’s recent form.

"They’ll be confident coming to play us in our own backyard. These games are the biggest games of all for both teams.

"There are four games in the regular season left and then, depending on how results go, the play-off games

"I think every game is a must-win going into the end of the season, so we’re certainly approaching it as a must-win."

At Aviva Stadium, 5.30pm local time
Live on TG4 and Sky Sports 3

Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)