Kidney in balancing act

MAGNERS LEAGUE PREVIEWS/Llanelli V Munster :MUNSTER ARE not about to cough up another Magners League match in the way they did on Wednesday at Ravenhill. Whatever about resting front-line players, Declan Kidney does not want to approach his Heineken Cup final duel with Toulouse in just over three weeks with a string of defeats behind him, albeit with the shadow side.

So with the exception of just one player, the coach includes the entire European Cup squad for today's away match at Stradey Park. Barry Murphy is ruled out with a dislocated thumb and is replaced by Anthony Horgan. The winger gets picked on the strength of his first-half performance against Ulster at Ravenhill last Wednesday before he was forced off with a stomach bug, presumed to be the same one that kept Keith Earls out of the match.

Kidney's balancing act between now and the Toulouse game is one of keeping the players fresh and on form and off the physiotherapist's table.

In keeping with the side that beat Saracens, it will also give him a chance to work the team against a side contributing four players to the group Warren Gatland is taking to Wexford for their preparation for two games against South Africa in June.

Llanelli fullback Morgan Stoddart is one of three new faces in the 29-man Wales squad. The other Scarlets in the squad are Stephen Jones, Matthew Rees, who both face Munster, Alix Popham, who does not, and the injured Dwayne Peel and Mark Jones.

Still Llanelli will face the Munster challenge with all they have in the knowledge of the consequences if they don't.

Nathan Brew and Gavin Evans form a new centre partnership while Simon Easterby is out with an inflamed knee. Llanelli have lost four of their last five matches in the league since February, including a loss to Leinster.

Munster have won their last four meetings with the Scarlets in all competitions and have already won at Stradey Park this season, when they beat the home side 29-16 in the European Cup in December.

Given the side Kidney is taking today and Llanelli's injury problems, most neutrals will expect a Munster win.

Defeat would be sending the wrong message at the wrong time.

LLANELLI: M Stoddart; D James, G Evans, N Brew, M Watkins; S Jones, G Cattle; I Thomas, M Rees, D Manu; V Cooper, S McLeod; D Jones, G Thomas, N Thomas. Replacements: P John, M Schwalger, L Reed, J Bater, L Davies, R Priestland, D Daniel.

MUNSTER: D Hurley; D Howlett, L Mafi, R Tipoki, I Dowling; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; M Horan, J Flannery, J Hayes; D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell; A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: F Sheahan, F Pucciariello, M O'Driscoll, D Ryan, P Stringer, P Warwick, A Horgan.

Referee: N Paterson (SRU).

Verdict: Munster win.