Paul O'Connell is set to make his season's debut for Munster after being included in their starting line-up for their opening Pool 1 clash with Racing Metro 92 at Stade de France on Saturday.
The 2009 British & Irish Lions captain will pack down with Billy Holland in the Munster second row for what will be his first game since 5 May. He will be making his 65th Heineken Cup appearance.
"We've always maintained that Paul would be back when he felt he was ready. I think it's great for us," said Munster coach Rob Penney.
"It's great for Irish rugby, for the rugby community, to see a player of his calibre back playing again. It was a gradual process but, in the interests of the player, it had to be."
Donncha O'Callaghan failed a fitness test on Thursday and will sit out this weekend, as will Springbok loose head prop Wian du Preez, who damaged his knee against Leinster last weekend. Dave Kilcoyne takes over the No 1 jersey and Donnacha Ryan packs down at blindside flanker.
Ronan O'Gara will extend his tournament cap record to 105 when he steps onto the pitch and will be looking for the two points he needs to raise his record points tally to 1,300. Current Irish scrum half Conor Murray partners him at half-back, with Peter Stringer poised on the bench to increase his Heineken Cup count to 95.
