Munster, beaten 24-23 by Wasps in Coventry last Saturday after twice seeing 10-point leads wiped out, cannot afford to come unstuck against Limerick visitors Clermont Auvergne in the Heineken Cup on Sunday.

Only Leicester have lowered Munster's colours at Thomond Park in Heineken Cup history, but Clermont arrive on the back of a seven-try victory over Llanelli Scarlets.

Munster rugby director Declan Kidney said: "It was very disappointing to leave Coventry with only one point, when there had been the real possibility of us taking four points.

"We are in a cup final situation from now on. I said there would be more pressure on the teams that lost during the opening weekend - and we are one of them.

"But it was never in doubt that we would be competitive against Wasps, and as long as we keep our honesty and integrity, then we will be there or thereabouts at the finish of the pool stages."

Wing Ian Dowling replaces Anthony Horgan as the solitary Munster change, but Clermont have made wholesale switches, including handing starts to South African World Cup skipper John Smit, Fiji wing Viliami Delasau and South African centre Marius Joubert.

Sunday's other game is a Pool Six clash between unbeaten rivals Toulouse and Leinster, where the Irish challengers will fancy their chances after toppling Leicester seven days ago.

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