Munster will look to Paul O'Connell for inspiration throughout the tournament © PA Photos

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Matches: Munster 23 - 21 Northampton Saints

Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

Teams: England | Ireland | Munster | Northampton Saints

Two-time champions Munster and last season's beaten finalists Northampton will renew their Heineken Cup rivalry in a crucial Pool 1 clash at Thomond Park in Limerick on Saturday night.

The two sides are well known to each other having gone head-to-head several times in the history of Europe's premier club competition. Saints edged out their Irish rivals in the 2000 tournament finale but Munster, veterans of four finals, have since claimed the title on two occasions - in 2006 and 2008. More recently, Northampton defeated the Irish province 31-27 in a titanic clash at Franklin's Gardens two years ago with Munster exacting revenge with a narrow 12-9 win in the return clash.

Northampton struggled in the early part of their Aviva Premiership season as they had to make do without a host of World Cup players but since they have returned they have produced some solid performances and are currently mid-table. Munster, in contrast, are riding high in the RaboDirect PRO12 in third place behind the Ospreys and Leinster.

Munster - Player to Watch: Scrum-half Conor Murray will make his Heineken Cup debut - can he provide veteran fly-half Ronan O'Gara with the service that will be required to silence the Saints?

Munster - Team News: The Munster side shows five changes from the one that started against Leinster last weekend. Denis Hurley comes onto the wing in place of the injured Keith Earls (knee) while Danny Barnes claims the No.13 jersey. Donncha O'Callaghan and Denis Leamy are both relegated to the bench in favour of Peter O'Mahony and James Coughlan, O'Callaghan giving way to Donnacha Ryan who moves up from the blindside flank he occupied against Leinster to partner Paul O'Connell in the second row.

Northampton Saints - Player to Watch: Russian flyer Vasily Artemyev is a rising star of the European game - expect him to make an impression on his Heineken Cup bow.

Northampton Saints - Team News: Saints make two changes to the line-up that started against Wasps last weekend with James Downey stepping in for Tom May at inside centre and Tom Wood replacing Phil Dowson at openside.

Key Battle: Can Saints' No.10 Ryan Lamb mix it with veteran Munster rival Ronan O'Gara on his home patch? If O'Gara is allowed to call the shots then it looks like a home win all the way.

Trivia: Irish fly-half Ronan O'Gara needs four more points to reach 1200 in the Heineken Cup

Stats: The race is on to see who will be the first player to make 100 Heineken Cup appearances with Munster's John Hayes on 99 and Ronan O'Gara on 97

Quote Unquote:

"Playing in Thomond Park is going to give us a real boost. Last year was a very hurtful year for us in our performance in the Heineken Cup so this time around we'll take every game as it comes. Home or away we're just set on going out there and doing our best."
- Munster's Donnacha Ryan is relishing another bumper Thomond Park crowd

"We are going into the game in good spirits after our recent run of results. Our team has a bit more experience than it has in the past and hopefully we will be able to put the lessons of the past into practice on Saturday evening."
- Saints boss Jim Mallinder hopes his side can score an early upset

Prediction: Northampton will travel to Thomond Park full of confidence but the Heineken Cup brings out the best in Munster who look set to open their account with a narrow win.