Return of international stars should help Munster find shelter from the storm

The Ospreys are a good team who provided stubborn resistance when they came to Thomond Park for the quarter-final in May, while the forecast is dire and that will force the hosts to play a game that doesn't necessarily suit them.

Although Jack Crowley, Peter O'Mahony and captain Tadhg Beirne add a calmness and maturity to the team, Munster have another injury crisis on their hands and go into the game with a callow midfield.

Confidence can't be high after last week's historic defeat at Zebre and the Ospreys will look at the home side's record of 11 tries conceded in two games and lick their lips.

Yet, it's hard to see how Munster don't respond at Musgrave Park today.

The shaky early-season form seems to have caught them off guard; all the word is that training has gone well and they are happy with their squad.

Much has been made of their off-field alignment, but suddenly the scrutiny is on the first team performances.

Against Connacht, they played in bursts and did enough to win. They took their eyes firmly off the ball in Parma and paid the price.

The expectation is that O'Mahony, Beirne and Crowley will lift standards around them, even if the seven other internationals in the team probably shouldn't need their presence to raise their games.

Graham Rowntree has gone with a 6/2 bench split and charges Gavin Coombes with coming in and breaking the game like he did to such great effect during their purple patch last season.

But it's the starters who will do the heavy lifting.

If the rain sweeps over Cork as is forecast, the players' handling will be tested.

Discipline will be central to their efforts, an accurate lineout and a ruthless approach near the line key to success.

Ospreys are a well-organised, nuggety team who will fancy their chances on the back of a good home win over Stormers last weekend.

"They're a good side, you look at the team sheet you kind of forget how many good players they have," captain Beirne said.

"Young guys putting their hands up for international selection.

"We played them in the quarter-final last season, we made it harder than we should have, but they'll be coming over looking for a win. They should have beaten Dragons in the first weekend, they put a good score up on Stormers.

"It's going to be a tough game, but we've a good track record in Cork and hopefully we keep that up."

With Croke Park next up, Munster could do with a morale-boosting win and performance – especially when they take a look at the team Leinster have fielded for their trip to Italy today.

The weather forecast indicates it won't be pretty, but they have what it takes to find a way.

Verdict: Munster

MUNSTER: M Haley; C Nash, T Farrell, B Fitzgerald, S McCarthy; J Crowley, C Casey; J Loughman, N Scannell, O Jager; J Kleyn, T Beirne (capt); P O'Mahony, J Hodnett, J O'Donoghue. Reps: D Barron, J Ryan, S Archer, F Wycherley, G Coombes, C Murray, T Butler, J Daly.

OSPREYS: M Nagy; I Hopkins, O Watkin, P Cokanasiga, R Conbeer; D Edwards, R Morgan-Williams; S Thomas, D Lake, T Botha; H Sutton, A Beard; J Ratti, J Morgan (capt) M Morris. Reps: S Parry, G Phillips, B Warren, L Jones, H Deaves, L Davies, J Walsh, K Williams.

REF: M Adamson (Scotland)

Munster v Ospreys, Live, RTÉ 2/Premier Sports, 7.35