Joey Carbery is in line to make his long-awaited return to action in Munster's trip to face Cardiff Blues tomorrow night (8pm).
Carbery, 25, has been out of the game for 13 months, largely due to ankle problems that first flared up in the World Cup warm-up against Italy in October 2019.
The Reds out-half has been named on the bench for the PRO14 clash at Cardiff Arms Park as Johann van Graan has named six changes to the line-up, with Jack O'Donoghue captaining the team.
Carbery went to the World Cup and played in three games off the bench, then returned home to play 80 minutes for Munster against Leinster that December only to pick up a wrist injury against Ulster in his next outing.
That was his last game for province or country as his ankle issues resurfaced last August during lockdown.
Speaking in January about his recovery, Carbery said: “Yeah, it has been pretty tough.
"Obviously it is not nice being injured but I am pretty blessed to have such good physio and S&C teams around me.
“It has been great to see the lads doing so well. Obviously I want to be out there. It’s been such a good start to the season so far.
"It’s never nice being injured but hopefully things change soon. It was tough at the start, we had an endgame in sight (for my comeback) and then didn’t hit that mark.
"It was almost more (disappointing) so it’s been relaxed and it’s, ‘I’m ready when I'm ready."
Shane Daly returns from the Ireland camp to retain his left wing role, with Calvin Nash named on the opposite flank as Mike Haley completes the back three at full-back.
If he comes off the bench, Billy Holland will move ahead of Ronan O’Gara for all-time Munster appearances - and become the second most capped player for the province (241 appearances).
Paddy Patterson is in line to make his Munster debut as he provides the scrum-half cover to Nick McCarthy, with JJ Hanrahan at no 10.
Munster: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Rory Scannell, Damian de Allende, Shane Daly, JJ Hanrahan, Nick McCarthy; James Cronin, Kevin O’Byrne, John Ryan, Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), Chris Cloete, Jack O’Sullivan.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Liam O’Connor, Roman Salanoa, Billy Holland, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, Joey Carbery, Darren Sweetnam.
