Gavin Duffy leads Connacht as they begin their season with a home RaboDirect PRO12 tie against Cardiff Blues at the Sportsground.
Duffy was made captain last year and continues in that role on Saturday from full-back.
Kieran Marmion will gain his first cap for the province at scrum half, while Miah Nikora continues at out half.
Fetu'u Vainikolo and Tiernan O'Halloran take their place on the wings, while the dynamic centre partnership of Mata Fifita and Eoin Griffin complete the backline.
Connacht XV v Cardiff Blues in the RaboDirect PRO12 at the Sportsground, Saturday at 5pm:
(15-9) Gavin Duffy (Captain), Tiernan O'Halloran, Eoin Griffin, Mata Fifita, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Miah Nikora, Kieran Marmion. (1-8) Denis Buckley, Ethienne Reynecke, Ronan Loughney, Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy, John Muldoon, Johnny O'Connor, George Naoupu.
Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Rodney Ah You, Finlay Bealham, Dave Gannon, Willie Faloon, David Moore, Matthew Jarvis, Robbie Henshaw.
Connacht have plenty of experience amongst the starting forwards. John Muldoon, Mike McCarthy, and Johnny O'Connor have almost 450 caps between them, while Michael Swift holds the record with this his 220th cap for the province.
Ronan Loughney, with 105 caps, provides plenty more experience with George Naoupu , Denis Buckley and Ethienne Reynecke completing the pack.
In the past two seasons both Connacht and Cardiff Blues have begun with an opening weekend victories and tomorrow both sides will endeavour to hold on to that record.
It's been a summer of change for Cardiff Blues with a number of senior players such as Martyn Williams, Xavier Rush and Deiniol Jones retiring from the game and a new exciting crop of youngsters coming through.
Director of Rugby Eric Elwood said: "All the pre-season training has led to this point and we can't wait to get going."
