O’Gara steps in for absent squad captain Paul O'Connell who was named in Munster’s initial 24-man squad but not the match-day 22.

Also included in the squad is back rower Denis Leamy who played his first competitive game of the season for Munster against the All Blacks last Tuesday but suffered injury at the end of the opening quarter and had to be replaced.

Leamy, who has signed a new contract with the IRFU and Munster, said: "It was just a bit of a knock and they (management) took me off as a precaution more than anything else. Thankfully I've fully recovered and I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.

"It's been a good week for me with the contract terms agreed and I'm delighted with the way the IRFU dealt with that.

"Now the opportunity is there to get myself back into the side with important games coming up, starting with this one on Friday."