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The defending champions start their campaign at one of the toughest away venues, Welford Rd, with a meeting against the twice former champions in what is arguably the tie of the round. Neither have been setting their leagues on fire but this promises to be a bruising encounter with very little being given from either side. No doubt Ronan O'Gara's mouthing off during the week will have made Leicester's team talk that little bit easier, don't be surprised if he gets an especially warm welcome from Louis Moody, although again don't be surprised if the latter gets a card for it.
On the team news, O'Gara and O'Connell both start having recovered from injuries picked up in the loss to Edinburgh, Barry Murphy and Frankie Sheehan will both start having missed most of last season's campaign. Tom Varndell returns to the Leicester starting lineup following his spell at Bedford. Centre Daryl Gibson and prop Martin Castrogiovanni also play while Paul Burke starts against his old club.
Leicester Tigers: 15 Sam Vesty, 14 Geordan Murphy, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Daryl Gibson, 11 Tom Varndell, 10 Paul Burke, 9 Scott Bemand, 8 Martin Corry (captain), 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Louis Deacon, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Leo Cullen, 3 MartÃn Castrogiovanni, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza
Replacements: 16 James Buckland, 17 Julian White, 18 Jordan Crane, 19 Shane Jennings, 20 Harry Ellis, 21 Andy Goode, 22 Seru Rabeni
Munster: 15 Shaun Payne, 14 John Kelly, 13 Barry Murphy, 12 Trevor Halstead, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Anthony Foley, 7 David Wallace, 6 Denis Leamy, 5 Paul O'Connell ©, 4 Donnacha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Frankie Sheahan, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Andy Kyriacou, 17 Fredericio Pucciariello, 18 Mick O'Driscoll, 19 Alan Quinlan, 20 Tomas O'Leary, 21 Jeremy Manning, 22 Lifeimi Mafi,
Referee: Nigel Owens
On the team news, O'Gara and O'Connell both start having recovered from injuries picked up in the loss to Edinburgh, Barry Murphy and Frankie Sheehan will both start having missed most of last season's campaign. Tom Varndell returns to the Leicester starting lineup following his spell at Bedford. Centre Daryl Gibson and prop Martin Castrogiovanni also play while Paul Burke starts against his old club.
Leicester Tigers: 15 Sam Vesty, 14 Geordan Murphy, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Daryl Gibson, 11 Tom Varndell, 10 Paul Burke, 9 Scott Bemand, 8 Martin Corry (captain), 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Louis Deacon, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Leo Cullen, 3 MartÃn Castrogiovanni, 2 George Chuter, 1 Marcos Ayerza
Replacements: 16 James Buckland, 17 Julian White, 18 Jordan Crane, 19 Shane Jennings, 20 Harry Ellis, 21 Andy Goode, 22 Seru Rabeni
Munster: 15 Shaun Payne, 14 John Kelly, 13 Barry Murphy, 12 Trevor Halstead, 11 Ian Dowling, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Anthony Foley, 7 David Wallace, 6 Denis Leamy, 5 Paul O'Connell ©, 4 Donnacha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Frankie Sheahan, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements: 16 Andy Kyriacou, 17 Fredericio Pucciariello, 18 Mick O'Driscoll, 19 Alan Quinlan, 20 Tomas O'Leary, 21 Jeremy Manning, 22 Lifeimi Mafi,
Referee: Nigel Owens