Munster are looking to continue their fine start to the Guinness PRO12 season on Saturday as they host a depleted Benetton Treviso at Thomond Park from 2pm.

What’s at stake? This will be Munster’s first competitive match in three weeks, but their impressive form this season should see them shake off any rust in the early stages.

The Irish side have lost just one Guinness PRO12 match since their week two home defeat to Cardiff Blues at Irish Independent Park.

Table-toppers Leinster could strengthen their place at the summit on Friday night but if they lose to Scarlets then a Munster victory would see them go top.

Benetton Treviso currently sit bottom with just one win from eight league games this season, the league’s joint-worst record with Zebre.

Victory could lift them as high as ninth, depending on other results this weekend.

Team news (Munster): Former Ulster player Sam Arnold makes his Munster debut, as director of rugby Rassie Erasmus makes four changes to his side.

The centre replaces Rory Scannell, who has been called up by Ireland, while Rhys Marshall and John Ryan come into the front row.

Team news (Benetton Treviso): With Italy due to face Tonga on Saturday, Benetton Treviso are without many of their starting players.

Tommaso Allan, Tommaso Benvenuti, Giorgio Bronzini, Simone Ferrari, Marco Fuser, Ornel Gega, Luke McLean, Francesco Minto, Nicola Quaglio and Braam Steyn are all missing, while Irishman Ian McKinley partners Tito Tebaldi at half-back.

Talking points: With the Autumn Internationals coming to a close, Munster have been boosted with the release of several key players.

While Benetton Treviso’s squad is stretched to breaking point, Munster have the likes of Dave Kilcoyne, Billy Holland and Jack O’Donoghue available.

And Erasmus thinks they can make all the difference this weekend after spending the past few weeks under the stewardship of Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt.

“We will still miss a few but it’s nice to have senior players back. Obviously, they get confidence from training with the national side and being coached by Joe and playing with and against world-class players,” he said.

“When they come back to our set-up, it helps the younger guys to rub shoulders with them and learn from them.”

Key battle: Italian sides are renowned for being big, physical and strong at the set-piece – so the front row battle will be a key one for Benetton Treviso to win.

Alberto De Marchi, Luca Bigi and Matteo Zanussi all start for the visitors and they have a massive task on their hands as they try to slow Munster down and win penalties across the pitch.

Key stat: Munster are unbeaten at Thomond Park since Christmas 2015 when Irish rivals Leinster claimed the spoils, while Benetton Treviso have not won outside of Italy since victory against Scarlets in May 2013.

Did you know? No other Guinness PRO12 side has conceded more points than Benetton Treviso’s 249 so far this season.

Munster: A Conway, D Sweetnam, S Arnold, J Taute, R O’Mahony, T Bleyendaal, D Williams, D Kilcoyne, R Marshall, J Ryan, D Foley, D O’Shea, J O’Donoghue, T O’Donnell ,R Copeland.

Replacements: N Scannell, T du Toit, S Archer, J Kleyn, B Holland, A Lloyd, I Keatley, A Wootton.

Top Points Scorer: Tyler Bleyendaal 67 Top Try Scorer: 3 – Dave Kilcoyne, Conor Murray, Jaco Taute

Benetton Treviso: J Hayward, M Tagicakibau, T Iannone, A Sgarbi , L Sperandio, I McKinley, T Tebaldi, A De Marchi, L Bigi, M Zanusso, F Gerosa, M Van Vuren, M Lazzaroni, F Ferrarini, M Barbini.

Replacements: D Giazzon, F Zani, T Pasquali, R Santamaria, F Conforti, E Francesato, A Pratichetti, D Odiete.

Top Points Scorer: Tommaso Allan 26 Top Try Scorer: 2 – Dean Budd, Tommaso Benvenuti, Marco Fuser

Match officials – Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU). Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White (SRU), Oisin Quinn (IRFU).