The Connacht side to play Border Reivers in the opening game of the Magners League at Netherdale on Friday evening (7.30pm) has been selected.
Summer signings Brett Wilkinson and Adrian Flavin, who made their Connacht debuts when they featured in the pre-season tie away to Narbonne, will make their competitive debuts in the game.
Ireland A hooker and Connacht captain John Fogarty, who has been bothered by a minor back injury, will start on the replacements' bench.
Prop Wilkinson (22), who joined from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and 27-year old hooker Flavin, who joined from London Irish, are included in the front row with Stephen Knoop.
Replacement prop Michael Diffley, a native of Oran in Roscommon who began his rugby with Creggs RFC, could become the 80th player to be used by Connacht since the competition started five years ago.
Mark McHugh, who has been selected at fly-half, will captain the side in Netherdale on Friday evening.
Connacht: M Mostyn; C McPhillips, P Warwick, G Williams, D Yapp; M McHugh, C Keane; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop; D Gannon, A Farley; J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney.
Replacements: J Fogarty, M Diffley, M Swift, B O'Connor, T Tierney, K Matthews, D Riordan.
