CJ Stander on the charge against Exeter Chiefs in October's 10-10 draw at Sandy Park.

European rugby returns to Thomond Park this Saturday as Munster host Premiership leaders Exeter Chiefs with a Champions Cup quarter-final place on the line.

European rugby returns to Thomond Park this Saturday as Munster host Premiership leaders Exeter Chiefs with a Champions Cup quarter-final place on the line.

The game kicks off at 5.30pm with gates open at 3.30pm, see full event information here.

See the best pics from training this week here.

The match is completely sold-out and with extra seating installed at either end of the ground to boost the capacity, an attendance of 26,267 will attend the fixture.

The game will be televised live on Virgin Media, Channel 4 and BT Sport.

A quarter-final place is at stake in the Round 6 encounter with just four points separating Munster and Exeter at the top of Pool 2. A win or draw would see Munster progress to the last eight while Exeter will progress if they pick up a win and deny Munster a losing bonus-point.

If Exeter win and end up with the same number of points as Munster at the top of Pool 2, the Devon club will advance to the knockout stage on the basis of the head-to-head matches between the clubs.

Team Line-Ups

Munster: Mike Haley; Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell, Rory Scannell, Keith Earls; Joey Carbery, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Niall Scannell, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne; Peter O’Mahony (C), Tommy O’Donnell, CJ Stander.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Jeremy Loughman, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Arno Botha, Alby Mathewson, Tyler Bleyendaal, Dan Goggin.

Exeter Chiefs: Jack Nowell; Santiago Cordero, Henry Slade, Ollie Devoto, Tom O’Flaherty; Joe Simmonds, Nic White; Alec Hepburn, Jack Yeandle (C), Harry Williams; Dave Dennis, Jonny Hill; Sam Skinner, Don Armand, Matt Kvesic.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Moon, Greg Holmes, Mitch Lees, Sean Lonsdale, Jack Maunder, Gareth Steenson, Ian Whitten.

Press Pass

Munster Head Coach Johann van Graan, Jean Kleyn and Rory Scannell look ahead to the big game.

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CJ Stander Champions Cup Profile

Check out CJ Stander’s very impressive stats from the Champions Cup so far this season.

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Stat Attack

This will be just the second meeting between Munster and the Exeter Chiefs, following the 10-10 draw at Sandy Park in Round 1 earlier this season.

Munster’s lineout success rate of 75% is the lowest in the tournament this season, however, their tackle success rate of 90% is the best.

Exeter have averaged more time in possession than any other side in the competition to date this season (21m 50s).

Tadhg Beirne (11) has won the most turnovers this season (level with Thomas Young of Wasps).

Joey Carbery is the top points scorer in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, scoring 59 points from three tries, 10 conversions and eight penalties.

Only Cheslin Kolbe (39) of Toulouse has beaten more defenders than the Exeter Chiefs duo of Santiago Cordero (34) and Jack Nowell (23) this season.

Match Officials

Referee: Jérome Garcès (France)

Assistant Referees: Ludovic Cayre (France) & Jonathan Dufort (France)

TMO: Eric Briquet Campin (France)