Cullen due warm farewell

Celtic League/Munster v Dragons:There is little room for sentiment in professional sport but it's fair to assume the Munster supporters will take the opportunity to warmly acclaim the contributions of Christian Cullen and Trevor Halstead in the red jersey before, as seems likely, they return home at the end of the season.

Cullen has been bedevilled by injury, which has hugely compromised his ability to deliver on the talent that made him the outstanding Test fullback of his generation. Nevertheless, he was a popular member of the squad and bore his setbacks stoically while offering brief cameos that could do no more than tantalise the Munster faithful.

He lines out at fullback tonight in the continued absence of the injured Shaun Payne, who has at least resumed training.

Halstead is not included in the match squad and so there remains just one possible opportunity for him to don the Munster colours, the province's final game of the season, against Glasgow at Musgrave Park.

The South African was an integral part of Munster's Heineken European Cup success last season, and his injury travails in the present campaigns underlined his value to the team.

Coach Declan Kidney has announced a strong team, in essence the one responsible for the impressive victory over Llanelli. Behind an experienced pack, the Munster backs should see plenty of possession.

Dragons coach Paul Turner has made eight changes, five in the back line, to the side that lost to Clermont Auvergne in the semi-finals of the European Challenge Cup. Martin Thomas makes his second full start at fullback in place of Kevin Morgan while Richard Fussell comes in on the wing for Gareth Wyatt. Nathan Brew is injured so Phil Dollman deputises.

There is a new halfback combination in Aled Thomas and Alex Walker, with Ceri Sweeney and Gareth Cooper named on an extended replacements list.

Up front Ben Daly is preferred to Steve Jones at hooker, and there is a new secondrow combination in Andy Hall and Peter Sidoli.

The Dragons lost narrowly to Leinster at home in a testy affair last time out and appear vulnerable against a Munster side in front of their own supporters.

MUNSTER: C Cullen; B Carney, B Murphy, L Mafi, I Dowling; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; A Quinlan, J O'Sullivan, A Foley (capt). Replacements: D Fogarty, F Pucciariello, D Leamy, D Wallace, B O'Meara, J Manning, M Lawler.

DRAGONS: M Thomas; R Fussell, P Emerick, P Dollman, A Brew; A Thomas, A Walker; A Black, B Daly, R Thomas; A Hall, P Sidoli; J Bearman, J Ringer, M Owen (capt). Replacements: S Jones, J Corsi, D Maddocks, I Gough, L Charteris, G Cooper, C Sweeney/K Morgan/G Wyatt.

Referee: A MacPherson (Scotland).

Verdict: Munster to win.