Both Munster and Leinster are wounded animals after disappointing European campaigns so far, and Eoin Reddan is expecting a full-throttle interprovincial derby to make up for it.

Hooker Sean Cronin will rack up his 100th appearance for the Leinstermen as they look to leapfrog Munster into the GUINNESS PRO12’s top four.

A welcome return to the back-row is the fit-again Sean O’Brien, the Ireland flanker partnering up with Dominic Ryan and Jamie Heaslip, while Garry Ringrose and Luke Fitzgerald partner up in the centres for the first time.

Leinster’s only defeat in the last seven rounds of the GUINNESS PRO12 came at Scarlets, but Munster did the double over their Irish rivals last season.

And Leinster scrum-half Reddan insists there will be no shortage on quality from his side, with players desperate to redeem themselves following back-to-back losses to Toulon.

“It’s a huge game, it’s massive,” says Leinster scrum-half Eoin Reddan. “Both teams are very frustrated with themselves, both are looking for big performances.

“Internationals wanting to play well and two coaches who care passionately about the teams they coach and who hurt more than anybody else when they lose.

“They probably put more into it because of that than anybody else, so from the top to the bottom of the two clubs it is going to be a huge night. The fans will love it with the day of the year that it is on. The way it has fallen this year with the way the training week is a bit better as well.

“It was a bit disjointed last year so it is going to be a big game and very tough for us away from home at that time of year.”

Fly-half Ian Keatley has dropped out of the matchday 23 for Munster – but flanker Tommy O’Donnell returns to the replacements after making a swift recovery from the injury he sustained at the Rugby World Cup.

Tyler Bleyendaal gets the nod at No.10, while BJ Botha and Donnacha Ryan have recovered from concussion and illness respectively to start in the pack. Jack O’Donoghue is also introduced at openside flanker.

Munster went down twice to Leicester Tigers in Europe but coach Anthony Foley believes they have played better than their results suggest – and he says the same goes for Leinster.

“I have looked very closely at Leinster over the last number of weeks,” said Foley. “I would have had the same feeling for them, as I would for us in terms of their performances aren’t being seen in their results.

“They are a very good side at the wrong end of it as well through this period. But from our own point of view we have got to look after our own business and make sure that we get our performance right and hope that that can lead to a result.

“I think the review (on Tuesday) was a tough day or a lot of fellas. We’ve looked a lot at Leinster and looked at putting a plan together for that game.

“Everyone is keen for this game against Leinster and I’m sure that’s the same in their camp.”

At Thomond Park, 5.15pm. Live on Sky Sports and TG4
Referee: David Wilkinson (IRFU, 36th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Stuart Gaffikin (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Eddie Walsh (IRFU)
TMO: Simon McDowell (IRFU)