Gavin Duffy and Tiernan O’Halloran have been drafted into head coach Pat Lam’s starting XV for Connacht’s meeting with Cardiff Blues Friday night at Arms Park (KO 7:05pm).
The duo are the two personnel changes to the Connacht side that beat Zebre 25-16 last weekend. Duffy returns to the fray for his first competitive game of the season and is named at fullback while Robbie Henshaw moves to outside centre.
O'Halloran, who came on from the bench last Saturday, starts on the right-wing while Danie Poolman is named amongst the replacements.
The pack remains unchanged with Michael Swift captaining the side on their first away trip of the season and the first game on Cardiff's newly installed artificial pitch at Arms Park.
John Muldoon, meanwhile, reaches a milestone as he celebrates his 200th Connacht cap in the Welsh capital.
Connacht: Gavin Duffy; Tiernan O'Halloran, Robbie Henshaw, Eoin Griffin, Matt Healy; Dan Parks, Kieran Marmion; Brett Wilkinson, Jason Harris-Wright, Nathan White, Michael Swift (c), Andrew Browne, John Muldoon, Willie Faloon, George Naoupu.
Replacements: Sean Henry, Rodney Ah You, Ronan Loughney, Aly Muldowney, Jake Heenan, Paul O'Donohoe, Craig Ronaldson, Danie Poolman.
Former Leinster back Andrew Conway will make his first competitive start for Munster on Friday night against Zebre at Stadio XXV Aprile in the RaboDirect PRO12 (KO 6.30pm Irish time).
Conway, who scored a try in the short time he played against Gloucester in a pre-season game, makes a return on the wing from the dead leg he sustained that day.
Donnacha Ryan will make his first appearance of the season against the Italian outfit and starts next to Ian Nagle in the second row.
James Downey, who recovered from a quad-tear picked up at training, is named among the replacements.
Damien Varley will captain the squad as he joins Dave Kilcoyne and John Ryan in the front row.
Munster: Denis Hurley; Johne Murphy, Casey Laulala, Ivan Dineen, Andrew Conway; JJ Hanrahan, Cathal Sheridan; Dave Kilcoyne, Damien Varley (c), John Ryan; Donnacha Ryan, Ian Nagle; CJ Stander, Tommy O'Donnell, Paddy Butler.
Replacements: Mike Sherry, James Cronin, Stephen Archer, Dave Foley, Niall Ronan, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, James Downey.
