Both sides are still licking their wounds after semi-final exits in the Heineken Cup but it is Leinster who will start as favourites having not lost at the RDS since October and achieving home and away victories over Munster.

They will also have Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton back in the No.10 shirt while Shane Jennings takes over the captaincy duty from the injured Leo Cullen.

Munster meanwhile recall winger Doug Howlett along with Irish internationals Keith Earls and John Hayes to the starting XV.

And despite their reputation for winning big games, McGahan is adamant his side will still need something special to overturn Leinster after what he classifies as a mixed season.

He said: “Obviously Leinster have had a tremendous season so far in the Heineken and in topping the Magners (table), so we go up there as big underdogs.

“No one’s really expecting us to come even close to them.

“There’s no disputing the results, you can’t argue with the stats. For us it’s all to play for and to make sure we come out and put in a Munster performance.

"We haven't really been able to gel everything together.

"We've reached a semi-final in the Heineken Cup, we're into a semi-final in the Magners League, and we've got a final with the A team at the weekend.

"Look, it's been an okay season, but the real goal for us is to finish with silverware and we have to give ourselves every opportunity with 80 tough minutes on Saturday."