Kidney calls upon second-string

As rumour and counter-rumour continue to do the rounds regarding his imminent appointment as Ireland coach, Declan Kidney got on with the day-to-day business of running Munster this afternoon as he prepares for tomorrow's Celtic League trip to Ravenhill.

There had been speculation that Kidney would be officially confirmed as Eddie O'Sullivan's successor as soon as today, but in the absence of any white smoke from the IRFU attention now turns to the clash against Ulster.

Given their heroics against Saracens, and with relatively little at stake in this competition, it came as no surprise that Kidney elected to rest his front-liners with the entire side that started on Sunday afforded a well-earned break.

Given that it is effectively a second-string, there is still plenty of quality and know how in Kidney's side with Anthony Foley set to win his 200th provincial cap in Belfast.

Peter Stringer resumes duties at the base of the scrum with Brian Carney and Anthony Horgan providing the cutting edge out wide.

Ulster coach Matt Williams, mindful that Connacht remain a real threat as the race for the final European berth goes down to the wire, could afford no such luxury and makes six changes from the side beaten in Cardiff last time out.

Williams has handed recalls to the experienced half-back pairing of Isaac Boss and Paddy Wallace with youngsters Paul Marshall and Niall O'Connor dropping to the bench.

Rory Best, Bryan Young and Stephen Ferris return to add some extra grunt up front while Bryn Cunningham starts at full-back.

"We have a point to prove after the away fixture in Cork and what better way to prove it by beating one of the best teams in Europe," Ulster captain Best said today.

Ulster: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, R Dewey, M Bartholomeusz; P Wallace, I Boss; B Young, R Best, T Court, C Del Fava, R Caldwell, M McCullough, K Dawson, S Ferris. Replacements: N Brady, J Fitzpatrick, J Harrison, N Best, P Marshall, N O'Connor, M McCrea

Munster: S Payne; B Carney, B Murphy, K Lewis, A Horgan; P Warwick, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, F Sheahan, T Buckley; D Ryan, M O'Driscoll; J O'Sullivan, N Ronan, A Foley. Replacements: S Cronin, D Hurley, M Melbourne, J Coughlan, G Hurley, J Manning, K Earls.