Peter Stringer lines out for Munster after winning his race to be fit ahead of today's monumental Heineken European Cup semi-final clash between provincial rivals Leinster and Munster at Lansdowne Road this afternoon.
The Munster scrum-half sustained a "bang" to the back of his knee during training on Friday. It meant Tomas O'Leary, who is still considered short of 100 per cent fit himself, could have been called into action. Mike Prendergast and Frank Murphy were also been drafted into the squad as cover.
"Peter took a bang and it's affecting his leg so he's a bit of a doubt for the game," Munster coach Declan Kidney confirmed in today's Sunday Times. "We'll just see how he wakes up. He didn't respond too well. We are hoping it would be a bit better this morning so we'll give it every bit of time we can."
Stringer travelled to Dublin with the rest of the squad on Saturday morning but he wasn't in attendance when the squad went to Lansdowne Road today for the Captain's Run.
Elsewhere in the Munster camp, Federico Pucciariello replaces the injured Marcus Horan at prop while Leinster coach Michael Chieka had the luxury of selecting from a fully fit squad. Shane Horgan, who was rested for the province's Celtic League game after they beat Toulouse in the quarter-final, was the only change as the winger returns to the starting XV and replaces Rob Kearney.
It also means Horgan and second row forward Malcolm O'Kelly will both earn their 100th Leinster caps on this historic day for Irish rugby.
Many analysts suggest the fixture will emerge as a battle between the flamboyant Leinster backs and the muscle and grit of the Munster pack, with both elements forming the backbone of the Irish international team.
"The match will see two different styles coming together, and whoever can impose their particular style on the game will be the winner," said Leinster's fly-half Felipe Contepomi on the BBC. "It's very obvious the way Leinster want to play and it's very obvious the way Munster want to play.
Whether the red of Munster or the blue of Leinster prevails, home supporters are guaranteed an Irish finalist for the first time in four years when Munster lost to Leicester. Whoever reaches the final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff will face French side Biarritz after they beat Bath 18-9 in yesterday's first semi-final.
Either way, the stage is set on a glorious sunny spring afternoon in the capital. Kick-off at Lansdowne Road is at 3pm
Teams
Leinster: Dempsey, Horgan, O'Driscoll (c), D'Arcy, Hickie, Contepomi, Easterby, Corrigan, B Blaney, Green, Williams, O'Kelly, Jowitt, Gleeson, Heaslip.
Replacements (from): D Blaney, McCormack, Byrne, Ronan, Miller, O'Riordan, Lewis, Kearney.
Munster: Payne, Horgan, Kelly, Halstead, Dowling, O'Gara, Stringer, Pucciariello, Flannery, Hayes, O'Callaghan, O'Connell, Leamy, Wallace, Foley (c).
Replacements: Fogarty, Roche, M O'Driscoll, Keogh, Manning, Henderson, O'Leary.
Referee: Joel Jutge (France)
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