Peter O’Mahony has been named in a squad for the first time since he suffered a cruciate ligament injury at the Rugby World Cup last October – and the Munster captain admits it’s good to be back.

O’Mahony has been named on the bench, with director of rugby Rassie Erasmus making eight changes in total for the clash against Zebre at Thomond Park.

Ireland internationals Simon Zebo and Tommy O’Donnell have recovered from injury while lock Darren O’Shea and winger Alex Wotton have been handed their first competitive starts.

Front rowers Duncan Casey and Stephen Archer make their first starts of the season with Jaco Taute to make his Munster debut from the start after being named at inside centre.

Donnacha Ryan is also in line for his 150th Munster cap – he will line up alongside O’Shea after being forced to withdraw from last weekend’s match with Edinburgh due to illness.

And after watching on from the sidelines for so long, O’Mahony cannot to make a contribution on the pitch for Munster’s new regime under Erasmus.

“It was a long-term injury and I prepared myself for that but the last six to eight weeks were tough, just being on the edge and nearly there,” he said.

“Training on your own is tough because it’s a team sport. For the last few weeks, I’ve been lacing up the boots to go out and do a full session which was exciting.

“I am a big believer in what (Erasmus) is trying to do, a big believer in his game plan.

“He has a huge amount of knowledge and he is not the kind of guy who will throw it at you and say, ‘go and do it.’ We will sit down and go through it.

“They explain everything as to why we are doing it. I think our understanding is better as a squad of what we are trying to do and I think that makes it more enjoyable.”

The Munstermen have won their last five matches at Thomond Park in all tournaments since Leinster beat them there in the PRO12 on 27 December.

In contrast, Zebre have not been victorious away from home in the Guinness PRO12 since they visited Treviso on January 3.

But they held an in-form Cardiff Blues to account last weekend, picking up their second league point of the season in a 21-23 loss.

Munster Rugby: Zebo, Sweetnam, Earls, Taute, Wootton, Bleyendaal, Murray, Kilcoyne, Casey, Archer, Ryan, O’Shea, Holland, O’Donnell, Stander

Replacements: Scannell, Cronin, Ryan, O’Mahony, Oliver, Williams, Keatley, Bohane

Zebre Rugby: Padovani, Di Guilo, Bisegni, Castello, Venditti, Canna, Palazzani, Lovotti, D’Apice, Chistolini, Geldenhuys, Koegelenberg, Sarto, Meyer, Ruzza

Replacements: Festuccia, Postiglioni, Roan, Furno, Minnie, Engelbrecht, Boni, Greeff

Overall Guinness PRO12 head to head record:
Played 8, Munster won 8, Zebre won 0.

At Thomond Park, 5pm.
Referee: Dan Jones (WRU, 1st competition game)
Assistant Referees: Simon Rees (WRU), Dermot Blake (IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Murray Whyte (IRFU)