Munster are on the verge of a flawless start to the BKT United Rugby Championship but are well aware that Connacht are out to dampen the mood at Thomond Park this evening (7.45pm).
Four wins from four under new head coach Clayton McMillan has brought a real feelgood factor to the 2023 champions' camp.
However, much of that momentum could be lost should the Westerners pulls of a shock and beat an Irish side for the first time in nine attempts.
It’s not that four wins out of five wouldn’t have been accepted at the start of the season, it’s that the manner of last weekend’s victory over Leinster has given the province real hope that things have turned.
Had, for example, Munster’s final fixture of the opening block been an away tie in South Africa and they had come up short, it wouldn’t do as much damage to morale as a loss to Connacht tonight would.
That’s why McMillan says the derby comes at the perfect time for his men, with Jack Crowley and Tadhg Beirne two of five away on Ireland duty, to show what they are really about.
They can’t pretend that it will match the intensity and wider scrutiny and consequence that last Saturday’s Croke Park game had but it’s the next best thing and focus shouldn't be an issue.
"We will hopefully be at that same emotional level, time will tell," McMillan said.
"But if we aren't, then everything else has to be on point; our scrum, our line-out, our tactical kicking game, our handling, our discipline.
"It's when you don't have the edge or the emotion and you're inaccurate, then you get yourself in trouble."
Between Thomond and Musgrave Park, Munster are looking to return to a previous era when teams dreaded away days at the southern province.
"We want to make Thomond Park and Virgin Media Park really, really tough places to come and play," the Kiwi continued.
"You're always aware there's an edge about you when you go in behind the enemy lines, but we need other people to feel that same way when they come here and we can only do that through our performances.
"We're aware that there will be a lot of eyes and a lot of interest on how the team bounces back.
"I think it's really hard to get to that same emotional level every week. It's a tough thing to do.
"That's why you celebrate the teams that can do that consistently, and if you even happen to be a little bit short in that emotional stuff, then everything else has to be pinpoint accurate."
Tom Farrell, Craig Casey and Tom Ahern are the other three on international duty, with Munster making seven changes in total.
Jack O’Donoghue captains the team, who welcome back John Hodnett and Diarmuid Kilgallen for seasonal debuts, while scrum-half Jake O’Riordan looks set for his first Munster cap off the bench.
Connacht, meanwhile, have made nine changes to their line-up and are similarly without five Ireland players – Finlay Bealham, Cian Prendergast, Bundee Aki and Caolin Blade are in Chicago, while Mack Hansen was injured in last weekend’s 28-27 defeat to Bulls.
Harry West gets his debut at full-back for the visitors.
There’s an interesting reunion for out-half Josh Ioane (below), who was coached by McMillan at the Chiefs before moving to Galway at the start of last season.
The New Zealander, capped by the All Blacks back in 2019, scored tries in both defeats to Munster last season, while the 30-year-old has also scored twice in three games this campaign.
He has struggled with his kicking out of hand but his running ability is something that has McMillan on high alert.
"He's always had that, he's immensely talented with ball in hand," said the 51-year-old.
"His decision to leave New Zealand, I think, was a good one because he was just sitting in behind some other guys who are just slightly ahead, but it was no reflection on him as a rugby player.
"I was pleased for him to come up here and do well.
"He's one of those guys who's just got fast hands, fast feet and always challenging the line, and if you just go to sleep for a second, it'll hurt you.
"We'll need to put a big X on his back or front."
Similar to how Munster rocked up to GAA HQ last weekend, Connacht are entitled to have something of a chip on their shoulder tonight.
They’ll feel it should have been the Bulls down to 14 for most of the game instead of Josh Murphy (above, l) on the end of a 20-minute red card that was rescinded after appeal.
That Hansen, playing a penalty advantage close to the posts, was injured in the act of scoring a try in corner – with the conversion missed – will serve as motivation.
They also felt injustice was served when their second-round game at home to Scarlets was called off late in the day and not rescheduled for the Sunday, partly because the Welsh side had a Friday game in round three.
Still, they were poor away at Cardiff and come into this game with just one win from three.
"An away interpro is one of the biggest tests in the URC so everyone’s looking forward to the game," said Stuart Lancaster, whose side have won just once away from home in the last 12 months – that coming at Zebre in their final match last season.
"Munster are a top-class well-coached side, so firstly we must play as well as I know we can.
"I’ve heard the Connacht supporters always travel in big numbers for these games so I’m sure they’ll make their voices heard in Thomond Park, and help us finish this first block of games on a high."
Munster: Shane Daly; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; JJ Hanrahan, Ethan Coughlan; Michael Milne, Lee Barron, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O'Donoghue (capt), John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Jeremy Loughman, Ronan Foxe, Evan O'Connell, Ruadhan Quinn, Jake O’Riordan, Tony Butler, Shay McCarthy.
Connacht: Harry West; Byron Ralston, Hugh Gavin, Cathal Forde, Finn Treacy; Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan, Sam Illo; Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray; Josh Murphy, Paul Boyle (capt), Sean Jansen.
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Fiachna Barrett, Niall Murray, David O'Connor, Matthew Devine, Sean Naughton, Seán O’Brien.
Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR).
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