Tommy O’Donnell is to make his first league start for more than three months in Saturday’s match with Scarlets and the returning back row is intent on ensuring Munster stay top of the RaboDirect PRO12 for Christmas.

Out since September following a knee injury sustained against Zebre, the 26-year-old stepped off the bench last week in their European Cup game against Perpignan, helping to set up the winning try in their 18-17 win.

And he is handed a start in one of 12 changes made by head coach Rob Penney as Munster look to make it eight wins in a row in all competitions, their last defeat coming against Edinburgh in the European Cup on October 12.

Gerhard van den Heever will make his home debut on the right wing, with Duncan Casey set for his first competitive Munster game, while Billy Holland returns as captain.

Denis Hurley and JJ Hanrahan, who both also had a hand in the winning try in France, come into the first XV, with Ivan Dineen partnering Casey Laulala in the centre.

Dave Kilcoyne and Duncan Casey make up the front row alongside BJ Botha while development prop Alan Cotter could make his debut if he steps off the bench.

And O’Donnell, who last month signed a new two-year extension to keep him at the club until June 2016, is determined to head into Christmas on a high in front of the Musgrave Park fans.

“We’re top of the Rabo and it’s the best place to be,” he told the Irish Examiner. “You don’t want to be in the chasing pack. You want to stay on top and keep extending your lead.

“It’s a really good confidence booster to play at home in front of your home crowd, at Christmas, where there are good crowds. It’s probably one of the best times of the year to be playing.

“It’s great to be back. The year didn’t get off exactly the way I wanted but I knew once a timeline was established I targeted a couple of games, rehab went very well and I’m just glad to be back,

“I was probably tense enough knowing I was in a contract year and knowing I had got injured so I was just happy that we worked out a deal. I’m very happy with the deal and staying here in Munster.”

The Munstermen have won all four matches they have played against Welsh regions this season while their only RaboDirect PRO12 loss this season was their 19-29 defeat at Treviso in round three.

And while Scarlets’ only win in their last five matches in all tournaments was a 24-21 win at Connacht in late November, they can take heart from the fact Munster are winless in three fixtures against them.

Currently lying sixth in the RaboDirect PRO12, head coach Simon Easterby has made nine changes to the side that lost to Clermont Auvergne last weekend.

Wales international Liam Williams and centre Gareth Maule are the only remaining backs, with Gareth Owen coming in at full-back, Aled Thomas replacing Rhys Priestland at fly-half and Rhodri Williams coming in at scrum-half.

Rob Evans and Jacobie Adriaanse replace Phil John and Samson Lee in the front row while Richard Kelly comes in for George Earle, with Rob McCusker captaining the side.

And currently 15 points behind Munster, Easterby challenged his side to start closing the gap.

“We have put ourselves in a difficult position in the league, certain sides above us have a little bit of a cushion,” Easterby told the South Wales Evening Post.

“Our job now is to put some pressure on those sides and pick up as many points as we can.

“If we are still in touch with the top four after the next couple of weeks, the second half of the season is quite kind to us and hopefully we can have a good run-in like we did last year.”

At Musgrave Park, 7.15pm.
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU, 101st competition game)
Assistant Referees: David Wilkinson, Michael Black (IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: John West (IRFU)
TMO: Dermot Moloney (IRFU)

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