Munster head coach Graham Rowntree has sprung a major surprise, with Conor Murray dropped from the match-day squad for Saturday's crucial Heineken Champions Cup Round 3 game against Northampton Saints (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
The 33-year-old has been left out for the visit of the Saints, with Craig Casey starting at scrum-half, while Paddy Patterson has been rewarded for his good form with a place on the bench.
Murray had missed the province's opening Pool B game against Toulouse due to a groin injury which he suffered during the Autumn Nations Series, but returned to the starting shirt for the province's following two games against Northampton and Leinster.
Patterson started the two most recent games against Ulster and the Lions, scoring a try both times, with Murray replacing him off the bench on each occasion.
And the 24-year-old has pipped the province's longtime first-choice scrum-half this weekend, with Graham Rowntree opting for youth ahead of experience.
Patterson has enjoyed a breakthrough season since stepping up from the academy to the senior squad this term, with the Dublin native playing nine times, scoring two tries, while he was also Player of the Match in November's famous win against a South Africa Select XV in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
"Paddy's doing really well, he got man of the match that night, he's elusive, he's electric, he's exciting, he's very similar to Craig Casey, where he brings that energy," said former Munster out-half Ian Keatley on this week's RTÉ Rugby podcast.
Speaking earlier in the week, Keatley suggested Patterson has earned his shot after some strong performances.
"You look at this weekend, you'd say Northampton are out of it, but it's a good opportunity to throw in one or two of those young players to give them that experience.
"We know Craig and Murray will be gone for the Six Nations, so it's a good opportunity to give someone like Paddy Patterson [below] a go at this level."
Murray, who won his 100th Ireland cap in November's win against South Africa, is still likely to be named in Andy Farrell's Six Nations squad, which will be announced in Thursday morning, alongside Casey and Leinster's Jamison Gibson-Park.
Keith Earls is another centrally contracted international left out of the squad, with Calvin Nash and Shane Daly preferred on the wings, and Liam Coombes set for his Champions Cup debut off the bench.
There are nine personnel changes from last week's win against the Lions, with Casey, Joey Carbery, Jack Crowley, Peter O'Mahony and Tadhg Beirne among those who return to the line-up after being rested last week.
Josh Wycherley is named on the bench having been an injury doubt, but Diarmuid Barron hasn't been passed fit after a shoulder issue, with Scott Buckley coming in to replace him.
Gavin Coombes shifts back to number 8, having started in the second row last week, while Jack O'Donoghue gets the nod over John Hodnett at flanker.
In the backline, Crowley and Carbery both start, with Crowley in the centre alongside Antoine Frisch, while Mike Haley retains his place at full-back.
Munster: Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Jack Crowley, Shane Daly; Joey Carbery, Craig Casey; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Jack O'Donoghue, Peter O'Mahony (capt), Gavin Coombes
Replacements: Scott Buckley, Josh Wycherley, John Ryan, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Paddy Patterson, Rory Scannell, Liam Coombes.
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Watch Munster v Northampton in the Champions Cup on Saturday from 2.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTE Player with live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to live commentary on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
Listen to live commentary of La Rochelle v Ulster in the Champions Cup on Saturday from 5.30pm on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1.
