It’s a mouth-watering tie for the reigning champions in Pool One at Thomond Park. Munster gained a huge confidence boost with an away victory at the Ospreys last weekend to return to the top of the Magners League.

The Irish province should have star fly-half Ronan O’Gara fit following a minor hamstring strain.  But Philippe Saint Andre will not want to leave Sake Sharks by failing to quality for the last eight in Europe.

Munster’s side for the crucial Heineken Cup clash with Sale Sharks in Thomond Park Stadium tomorrow night, shows just one change in the starting XV from the side that defeated Sale back in October.

That change comes in the back-row where a fit again Denis Leamy replaces John O’Sullivan and there is also just one change on the bench from that time with Niall Ronan in for Justin Melck who has returned to his native South Africa.

The Munster side announced this morning includes both Ronan O’Gara and Paul Warwick. O’Gara missed Munster trip to Swansea last weekend with a slight hamstring injury while Warwick was injured in that game sparking worries over the out-half berth but both came through yesterday’s rain lashed Musgrave Park training session with Warwick preferred at full back to Denis Hurley who is named on the bench.