Munster desperate for final glory

O'Connell was immense in their semi-final win over Leinster

Lock Paul O'Connell says Munster are "ridiculously motivated" to beat Biarritz in the Heineken Cup final.

Saturday's match could be a last chance for stalwarts such as Anthony Foley and John Hayes - two of six survivors from their final losses in 2000 and 2002.

"A few lads may not have another chance and they're as focused as you would possible want," said O'Connell.

"We are fortunate at Munster to have a ridiculously motivated bunch of players. We will give it everything."

O'Connell played the first hour of the 2002 final when Munster lost 16-9 to Leicester, also at the Millennium Stadium.

You just keep doing the same thing over and over again Paul O'Connell

But Foley, Hayes, David Wallace, Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer and John Kelly will be hoping to make it third time lucky after all appearing in both losing finals.

Munster have beaten Sale, Perpignan and Leinster en route to Cardiff with an uncompromising, forward-orientated approach.

And O'Connell, who should shake off an ankle injury in time, admits the Irish province will not be changing their approach now.

"Our approach doesn't change for any game," said the Ireland lock, who won man-of-the-match awards against Perpignan and Leinster.

"You stick with what works, so we'll go out there with the same frame of mind as we did in the semi-final and the quarter-final.

"You just keep doing the same thing over and over again - I suppose you could say that it's a case of familiarity breeding success."