Munster may have a home game against Benetton still to come this season, although that fixture is to be staged in Cork.

That means that tonight is a last time out in Thomond Park for three Munster stalwarts.

Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray and Stephen Archer will all be turning out at the famous old ground for one last time this evening.

Dave Kilcoyne will also retire at the end of the campaign, but is not in the Munster 23 this evening.

The Limerick crowd is sure to give them some ovation.

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The hosts make five changes from last week's reversal at Cardiff Arms Park with four of those coming in the pack. They bring in some heft in the front row with Stephen Archer at tight head while Jean Kleyn returns to the second row.

In the back row, Peter O'Mahony makes his last regular season appearance in Limerick at blindside while John Hodnett is on the openside. Diarmuid Kilgallen is on the left wing as Thaakir Abrahams shifts to full back.

For Ulster, there are just three alterations from their defeat to the Sharks in their last home game of the season a fortnight ago. Richie Murphy is able to draw on some serious experience and talent as Iain Henderson is back in the second row in place of Alan O'Connor while Michael Lowry is back in the 15 shirt.

That means Jacob Stockdale's brief - and fruitful - sojourn at full back is over for now as he returns to the left wing in place of Zac Ward while Robert Baloucoune is on the other wing with Werner Kok dropping to the bench.

Munster: Abrahams; Nash, Farrell, Nankivell, Kilgallen; Crowley, Casey; Milne, Scannell, Archer; Kleyn, Beirne (capt); O'Mahony, Hodnett, Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, J Wycherley, Ryan, F Wycherley, Ahern, Murray, O'Brien, Kendellen.

Ulster: Lowry, Baloucoune, Postlethwaite, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Doak; Warwick, Herring, Wilson; Henderson (capt), Izuchukwu; Matty Rea, Timoney, McNabney.

Replacements: Stewart, Reid, O'Toole, O'Connor, McCann, Shanahan, Stewart Moore, Kok.

There's no doubt that Ulster's situation tonight is do or die...but their head coach Richie Murphy doesn't want them to play like it.

"I don't want a situation where the players are feeling desperate. Yes, we're all desperate to win but we don't want to play like that," he said.

"We want to play for each other and play the brand of rugby that we have over the last number of weeks.

"We've got a little bit of confidence from the way we're playing, we just need to turn some performances into results."

Read more here.

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The situation is clear for Ulster this evening - after nine losses from their 16 games, they cannot afford another reverse in what is their penultimate game of the regular season.

Three points but four places off the URC play-off spots, the northern province's season is in last-chance saloon territory.

Munster's need isn't quite so pressing but in ninth place - one outside the all-important top eight - they know their end-of-season fate is far from certain too.

"We need it to keep our season going and I think their situation is pretty similar," said Ulster's Nick Timoney.

"It's the business end of the season, if you lose, it's a failure. There's no redemption after this one, if we don't win, we're not making the play-offs.

"That comes with a lot of pressure and a lot of weight, but that's why you play the game, that's why you play for a big club like us. We're embracing it and looking forward to it."

Read more.

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Hello and welcome to our coverage from Limerick for what is the penultimate round of this season’s URC. It is the final inter-pro of the season and there could scarcely be more riding on it. Both of these sides sit on the precipice of the top eight and those coveted playoff spots.

The hosts tonight are in ninth and are level on points with Benetton above them on 41 while Richie Murphy’s men sit three places and three points further back. Both sides know how crucial a win will be but, equally, a loss would be a crushing blow to their season.

Thank you for joining us for what promises to be a thrilling evening of rugby.

Image source, Inpho