In a re-match of last season’s play-off semi-final, Munster welcome Ospreys to Ireland for their Conference A clash.

What’s at stake? Second in Conference A plays bottom as Munster chase a third win on the spin in the league to keep pace with runaway leaders Glasgow Warriors.

The game takes place at Irish Independent Park and Munster have not been defeated in Cork since Cardiff Blues won there by a single point in Round 2 last season.

Ospreys have won just once in the last eight rounds of the Guinness PRO14: 28-14 at home to Dragons in Round 7, whilst they haven’t won away from home in the league since a trip to Edinburgh on March 3.

Team news (Munster) There are two changes to the side that secured a bonus-point victory away to Zebre last weekend as Ian Keatley and John Ryan return from international duty to start.

That means the majority of Munster’s Irish contingent like CJ Stander, Peter O’Mahony and Conor Murray are rested with one eye on the return of the European Champions Cup next weekend.

Team news (Ospreys) Ospreys make four changes from the record 47-6 home defeat by Glasgow Warriors last time out.

But with Wales still in action this autumn, they face South Africa on Saturday, Ospreys are still without a host of international stars.

Kieron Fonotia and James Hook come in at centre, with Gareth Thomas coming in at loose-head and Will Jones at openside flanker.

The latter two will be making their first Guinness PRO14 starts while Rowan Jenkins will make his debut if introduced off the bench. Bradley Davies makes his 100^th Championship appearance.

Talking points This will be Johan van Graan’s first game on home soil in charge of Munster and he will be keen to put his best foot forward in front of his new fanbase.

Steve Tandy meanwhile knows his side will have to produce something special after last weekend’s humbling at the Liberty Stadium.

“We can’t dwell on it, we have to learn from it and look forward,” he said.

“It’s a cliché maybe, but it’s the reality of where we are this weekend with a short turnaround, the travel and player availability.

“We certainly won’t be sitting in a corner feeling sorry for ourselves. We know we are in a fight and will stick together to do the Ospreys badge justice.”

Key battle Ireland international Ian Keatley returns from international duty having made two appearances during the autumn – both from the replacements bench.

He comes up against Ospreys’ fly-half Sam Davies, a young prospect with another great chance to show what he can do in the absence of Dan Biggar with Wales.

Not just a threat from the tee, Keatley has 1,358 Guinness PRO14 points to his name already, he has also made eight breaks with ball in hand this season.

Davies has 12 successful kicks from 14 attempts in this campaign and is fast approaching 500 points in the Guinness PRO14, he currently sits on 461.

Key stat The Munstermen’s only home defeat in any tournament since September 2016 was to Scarlets at Thomond Park in the Guinness PRO14 in February 2017.

Did you know? Munster’s only defeat in their last seven fixtures with Ospreys was 17-21 in Cork in February 2016.

Munster: Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Sam Arnold, Rory Scannell, Alex Wootton; Ian Keatley, James Hart; Liam O’Connor, Rhys Marshall, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland (C); Jack O’Donoghue, Chris Cloete, Robin Copeland
Replacements: Kevin O’Byrne, Brian Scott, Stephen Archer, Darren O’Shea, Sean O’Connor, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Calvin Nash

Ospreys: Dan Evans, Hanno Dirksen, Kieron Fonotia, James Hook, Jeff Hassler, Sam Davies, Tom Habberfield, Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Dmitri Arhip, Lloyd Ashley, Bradley Davies, Olly Cracknell, Will Jones, James Kings

Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Rowan Jenkins, Ma’afu Fia, Rob McCusker, Guy Mercer, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Luke Price, Joe Thomas

Match officials – Referee: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)

AR1: Ian Davies (WRU)

AR2: Simon Rees (WRU)

TMO: Sean Brickell (WRU)

TV: Sky Sports Action, coverage starts at 5:00PM

Guinness PRO14 Final 2018 Ticket Information: Fans can save up to 20% on selected tickets, and prices start at just €30 for adults and €5 for children, and can be booked via www.ticketmaster.ie