Can Chris Ashton inspire the Saints again? © Getty Images

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Matches: Munster 12 - 9 Northampton Saints

Players/Officials: Jean de Villiers | Ben Foden | Ronan O'Gara | Paul Warwick

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

Teams: England | Ireland | Munster | Northampton Saints

Northampton's last-gasp bonus-point against Perpignan last weekend will give the Guinness Premiership side heart as they prepare to take on one of the biggest challenges in European rugby on Friday.

The Saints face two-time Heineken Cup champions Munster at their fortress, Thomond Park, with two points separating the sides at the top of Pool 1. Munster have been in ominous form of late and were unplayable against Benetton Treviso last weekend, while Jim Mallinder's men made hard work of their win over a shadow Perpignan outfit.

Munster boast a strong starting XV, their twin talismans, fly-half Ronan O'Gara and skipper Paul O'Connell, both starting. The ever improving Jean de Villiers starts in the No.12 jersey alongside Keith Earls, with Paul Warwick, Doug Howlett and Denis Hurley forming the back-three.

David Wallace starts at No.8 again in the absence of the injured Denis Leamy, with Niall Ronan starting at openside. Alan Quinlan completes the back-row while there is further experience throughout the pack as Donncha O'Callaghan starts in the second-row and John Hayes up front. Wian du Preez starts at loose-head, although there is a welcome return on the bench as Marcus Horan returns to the matchday squad for the first time since October.

Northampton flyers Ben Foden and Chris Ashton again showed their class from deep against Perpignan and will need to provide an attacking spark if Saints are to pick up a victory. Their bonus-point at Franklin's Gardens does provide a small safety net for them to qualify as a runner-up should results go their way elsewhere. With London Irish, the Ospreys, Leinster and Clermont poised to outstrip their total though, there is no room for complacency.

Shane Geraghty will hope for a better return from the kicking tee after being retained at fly-half, alongside the spiky Lee Dickson. Jon Clarke, the man who scored that vital bonus-point try, starts at outside-centre alongside James Downey.

Euan Murray returns at tight-head after sitting out last Sunday's victory due to his religious beliefs, and joins skipper Dylan Hartley and fan-favourite Soane Tonga'uiha in the front-row. Courtney Lawes is back at blindside after withdrawing from last weekend's game with a minor injury and the back-row is completed by Phil Dowson and Roger Wilson.

"We had a massive game against Munster in October but we will need to play much better," Mallinder said. "Many of their players are familiar faces from their exploits for Munster, Ireland and the Lions. But when the whistle blows it is just 15 men against 15, and if we play to our potential and stick to our game plan there is no reason why we can't win."

Munster: Paul Warwick; Doug Howlett, Keith Earls, Jean de Villiers, Denis Hurley; Ronan O'Gara, Tomas O'Leary; Wian du Preez, Denis Fogarty, John Hayes, Donncha O'Callaghan, Paul O'Connell (capt), Alan Quinlan, Niall Ronan, David Wallace

Replacements: Damien Varley, Marcus Horan, Tony Buckley, Donnacha Ryan, James Coughlan, Peter Stringer, Lifeimi Mafi, Ian Dowling

Northampton: Ben Foden; Chris Ashton, Jon Clarke, James Downey, Bruce Reihana; Shane Geraghty, Lee Dickson; Soane Tonga'uiha, Dylan Hartley (capt), Euan Murray, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Juandre Kruger, Courtney Lawes, Phil Dowson, Roger Wilson

Replacements: Brett Sharman, Alex Waller, Brian Mujati, Christian Day, Neil Best, Alan Dickens, Stephen Myler, Chris Mayor