There are 11 changes to the side that faced Glasgow Warriors last week.

New signing Jack Aungier starts at tighthead on his Munster debut in his first year

Academy player Charlie O’Shea and Marnus van der Merwe make their first starts.

Returning internationals Craig Casey and Jeremy Loughman are also included, with Casey captaining the side and Loughman among the replacements.

Aungier, Shane Daly and Tom Ahern are all named in the starting XV after missing out last week due to injury, with Shay McCarthy, Dan Kelly, Seán Edogbo, John Hodnett and Brian Gleeson also coming into the side.

Daly, Diarmuid Kilgallen and McCarthy start in the back three with Kelly and Seán O’Brien combining in midfield.

Casey and O’Shea are named in the half-backs.

Michael Milne, van der Merwe and Aungier pack down in the front row with Ahern and Fineen Wycherley in the engine room.

An all-new back-row of Edogbo, Hodnett and Gleeson complete the side.

Kieran Brookes, who can play across the front row, is the replacement at hooker, with Loughman and Ronan Foxe completing the front row cover.

Evan O’Connell, Gavin Coombes and Alex Kendellen are also named as forward replacements.

Ben O’Donovan and JJ Hanrahan provide the backline cover.

Head Coach Clayton McMillan said: “We have made several changes this week, with players earning their opportunity to start off the back of what they have produced in pre-season.

“We are delighted for Jack Aungier to be making his Munster debut this week after he joined us over the summer; he has fitted in really well and is a quality tighthead prop.

“Marnus will make his first start after a strong debut last week and, along with Kieran Brookes, he’s another of our new signings that have made an immediate impact.

“Craig and Jeremy have been itching to get back in, and it’s good to have them in the mix with Craig leading the team on Saturday night.

“Charlie O’Shea has earned his first start after really hitting the ground running since coming into our Academy over the summer. He’s a very diligent young man, and it’s great to have a player of Craig’s quality and experience alongside him in the half-backs for his first start.

“We’ve had a few injury issues at hooker both in the senior team and the Academy, so Brookesy, who was excellent on his debut last week, is our replacement hooker. While he is a tighthead first and foremost, he does have experience of playing across the front row. He’ll step into that role for us this week, and it’s invaluable to have a player of his experience and versatility to cover hooker.“

Munster Rugby: Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Seán O’Brien, Dan Kelly, Shay McCarthy; Charlie O’Shea, Craig Casey (C); Michael Milne, Marnus van der Merwe, Jack Aungier; Tom Ahern, Fineen Wycherley; Seán Edogbo, John Hodnett, Brian Gleeson.

Replacements: Kieran Brookes, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Evan O’Connell, Gavin Coombes, Ben O’Donovan, JJ Hanrahan, Alex Kendellen.