Gloucester boss Dean Ryan believes Munster will treat a Heineken Cup trip to Kingsholm as "part and parcel" of their assault on another European title.

Ryan's men are notoriously difficult to beat at home, yet 2006 European champions Munster boast a Heineken Cup record that has seen them win more games - 62 - than most clubs have even played in the tournament.

That tally includes away victories over teams like Leicester and Stade Francais, confirming the immense challenge Guinness Premiership leaders Gloucester face in Saturday's quarter-final.

Ryan said: "Munster play in a lot of different ways. They can play pressure rugby - look at the Wasps game this season, and Leicester the season before - and their game suits Heineken Cup campaigns.

"They are very physical, they have a very good kicking game and if they have to go after things, especially now with the southern hemisphere influence in their back-line of (Doug) Howlett, (Rua) Tipoki and (Lifeimi) Mafi, they can probably play a bit more than in the past.

"They've also got a lot of maturity.

"If you look at the nine, 10 and the second-rows, that's world-class stuff of doing it at international and Lions levels.

"That backbone allows them to travel with some confidence.

"For them, being away from home is part and parcel of being in Europe. For us, I am pretty pleased we are at home and we need all those advantages that it might give us."

Ryan could tomorrow confirm England star Mike Tindall's return to action, two months after suffering a sickening injury that put him in the intensive care unit of a London hospital.

There was initial anxiety for Tindall's well-being as the full extent of his problems became clear - a torn liver, punctured lung and internal bleeding.

But Tindall, who has not played since he was carried off during England's RBS 6 Nations defeat against Wales on February 2, now looks set to feature on the Gloucester bench this weekend.

An accidental kick from an opponent left Tindall writhing in agony on the Twickenham turf, his Six Nations season over amid grave concerns he would be sidelined for months.

Ryan added: "Mike is around and out running with us. We have been pretty honest with Mike. If he was an option we would think it was great, but if he wasn't, then we have been running without him for a while.

"At the moment, it is a possibility. We will see how he reacts to some of the stuff we've done this week.

"We always knew potential (recovery) time-frames could sit around this game, and then we would make a decision on how Mike felt.

"The decisions will be taken around the value we think Mike offers us in terms of experience, thought-process and impact.

"We miss Mike when he is not playing, there is no doubt about that. In terms of his maturity and experience, compared to the rest of the group, he is significantly further on.

"If we can get him as an option, then it would be of great value to us.

"Having worked with Mike for a couple of years, he is one of those players that does know his own body. If you can get past the medical checks, he is going to tell you whether he's right or wrong.

"This is not something we want to take a risk about for one game - it's about Mike being right. If we believe he is, and if Mike feels he is, then he will play a part."

More news from SportingLife.com