IRELAND internationals Conor Murray and Keith Earls are set to bolster the Munster ranks for Saturday's Guinness Pro12 clash with Newport Gwent Dragons, writes Chris Kirwan.

Scrum-half Murray and wing/centre Earls sat out the win against the Scarlets in Llanelli and narrow defeat to Cardiff Blues in Cork after their summer Test exertions against South Africa.

The Lions pair are back available under the IRFU player management programme for their trip to Rodney Parade (kick-off 5.30pm) but the game may come slightly too soon for inspirational back row forward Peter O'Mahony.

The captain has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury in the World Cup victory against France in Cardiff last October.

Munster are looking to rebound from a 24-23 loss to Cardiff Blues at Musgrave Park and lock Billy Holland says the new coaching team of Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber have made sure the mood has remained upbeat.

"It was kind of strange in the dressing room, the players were more disappointed than Rassie and Jacques in there," Holland told the Irish Examiner.

"We don't like losing at home, it's something that hurts immensely for us. There was a great crowd there on what was a brutal day so it hurts us a huge amount but they look at the positives.

"Irish fellas just turn around and look at all the negatives but they're trying to look at young fellas being blooded against a really good Cardiff side."

He continued: "I think it's getting the balance, it's something that you can't lose – being hard on yourself – it's how we progress. You learn from your mistakes and move forward.

"Their point of view is you take the positives out of it as well and not just beat ourselves up too much."

Munster have lost just one of their last six meetings with the Dragons, when a try by South African lock Rynard Landman helped secure the hosts a 22-6 success in last season's corresponding fixture.