A Step Up.

The opportunity this evening for Munster supporters to throw their eye over newcomer BJ Botha wearing the new look Munster jersey alongside Doug Howlett and Lifeimi Mafi, both togging out for their first game of the new season.

Mike Sherry is another who gets to stretch his legs from the start while Duncan Williams, Dave Foley and Tom Gleeson are waiting in the wings and can be expected to get game-time in the course of the game.

In all, there are nine changes from the side that started in La Rochelle, including the one positional of Scott Deasy who moves from the centre to full-back – Johne Murphy who started there in France, involved last night for the Ireland Select XV in Donnybrook – with Mafi now joining Danny Barnes in midfield.

The presece of Botha alongside his Springboks colleague Wian du Preez with the burgeoning talent of Sherry gives the front row a potent look while Billy Holland and Ian Nagle team up together in the second row for the first time since the Gwent Dragons League game back in November.

The surprise is that Peter Stringer is down south tonight and not in Dublin but his presence ensures that what looks a pacy backline will get quick quality ball. Denis Hurley, try scorer for the Ireland Select last night in Donnybrook is added to the squad for a match that represents a step up from last week.

Tickets are available from the ticket offices in Cork and Limerick, and will be on sale at the ground this evening.

Munster:  S Deasy; D Howlett, D Barnes, L Mafi, S Zebo, D Cusack, P Stringer; W du Preez, M Sherry, BJ Botha; B Holland, I Nagle; D O'Callaghan, P O'Mahony, P Butler.  Replacements from:  D Fogarty, S Archer, M Horan, D Foley, T O'Donnell, J Coughlan, D Williams, T Gleeson, S Scanlon, JJ Hanrahan, D Hurley.

London Wasps: Alex Cheesman, Jack Wallace, Richard Haughton, Tom Varndell, Chris Mayor, Chris Bell, Christian Wade, Nick Robinson, Ryan Davis, Jonah Holmes, Nic Berry, Charlie Davies. Forwards: Jeremy Castex, Simon McIntyre, Bob Baker, Guillermo Roan, Ben Broster, Nathan Morris, Tom Lindsay, James Cannon, Marco Wentzel, Richard Birkett, Sam Jones, John Hart (captain), Billy Vunipola.