MUNSTER RUGBY CHIEFS have this lunchtime confirmed that Paul O’Connell will start against Toulon at the Stade Mayol.

The Thomond Park skipper returns from a four-week ban for striking Ospreys’ Jonathon Thomas.

O’Connell’s inclusion means Mick O’Driscoll drops to the bench as head coach Tony McGahan makes three changes for the crucial showdown in the south of France.

It will be the first start for O’Connell in 51 weeks amazingly. O’Connell suffered through a lengthy lay-off because of a nasty groin injury.

Peter Stringer retains the number 9 jersey while John Hayes starts ahead of Tony Buckley in a bid to boost the scrum.

Donncha O’Callaghan is glad to have his old colleague O’Connell back for a crucial clash: “As far as we’re concerned, it’s  a case of winning on Sunday, simple as that,” he said.

This is what we’re all about. It’s really what we were reared on in terms of the professional club game. The Heineken Cup is where it’s at.

It was the first international club competition. It’s different to the League (Magners) obviously because it’s knock-out rugby. You could lose three four games in the Magners and still qualify for the knock-out stage. You don’t have that leeway in this competition.

Ulster, meanwhile, have made two changes for tomorrow’s visit of Biarritz.

Dan Tuohy starts in the second row with Tim Barker moving to the bench. The fit-again Stephen Ferris is named at blind-side flanker.

Luke Fitzgerald will start on the bench for Leinster as they welcome Saracens to a sold-out RDS tomorrow.

Seán O’Brien will replace Jamie Heaslip at No 8 as the Ireland talisman recovers from an ankle injury picked up in France.

Eoin Reddan partners Jonathan Sexton at half-back, while Gordon D’Arcy joins Brian O’Driscoll at centre.

Fitzgerald is joined on the sidelines by fellow Irish internationals Isaac Boss, Kevin McLaughlin and Devin Toner.