MUNSTER are hoping to avoid a trimming at Franklin’s Gardens this afternoon as they aim to take another step towards the Champions Cup knockout stages.
Last weekend they gave their chances of making it out of Pool 3 a shot in the arm by pulling off a 17-12 comeback against Saracens in front of a vintage Thomond Park crowd.
Here’s everything you need to know around how to catch today’s match-up with English Premiership opposition:
What Irish TV channel is Northampton vs Munster on?
The match will be shown live on Premier Sports 2. Kick-off will be at 3.15 pm.
That means only Premier Sports subscribers will be able to stream it via the Premier Player.
What are the odds?
The English champions are 2/5 favourites while the visitors are 21/10.
A draw is 22/1 while the handicap is +/- six points.
What’s been said in the build-up?
Conor Murray insists gaining revenge on European foes Northampton is not Munster’s sole focus.
The southern province were dumped out of the Champions Cup by the English side last season at the last-16 stage.
But ahead of their latest clash at Franklin’s Gardens, Murray believes Munster will stay professional against the Saints.
He said: “As long as I’ve been around that kind of talk about owing them one . . . I think we’re more professional than that.
“Lads will probably be hurting personally and it’ll be in the back of people’s minds.
“I don’t think the coaches need to talk about losses or tight games like that.”
Murray, 35, is in the last year of his contract and is hoping for a big performance to put him in the frame to start for Ireland in the Six Nations next month.
But he will face Northampton first before he returns to international duty.
Murray added: “They have a number of ways to attack you.
“That’s part of the challenge this weekend but we’ve got to show up and play our game.”
Skipper Peter O’Mahony returns to the Munster XV today after missing last weekend’s 17-12 win over Saracens.
Diarmuid Kilgallen will also start after recovering from injury, while Diarmuid Barron gets the nod at hooker instead of Niall Scannell.
Dian Bleuler will pack down for the last time before his loan ends ahead of his return to the Sharks.
MUNSTER: M Haley; C Nash, T Farrell, R Scannell, D Kilgallen; J Crowley, C Murray; D Bleuler, D Barron, O Jager; F Wycherley, T Beirne; P O’Mahony, A Kendellen, G Coombes.
Reps: N Scannell, J Ryan, S Archer, T Ahern, J O’Donoghue, P Patterson, T Butler, B Gleeson.