Ireland's Peter O’Mahony is in line for his first taste of action in a year after being named on the bench for Munster's Thomond Park Pro12 clash with Zebre on Saturday [5pm].
The flanker suffered knee ligament injury in Ireland’s 2015 World Cup victory over France at the Millennium Stadium last October and hasn't featured for the province since May of that year.
O'Mahony will be desperate to get some minutes after his successful rehabilitation from an ACL rupture.
Rassie Erasmus hands lock Darren O'Shea and winger Alex Wootton their first competitive starts.
Simon Zebo has overcome a rib injury while Tommy O'Donnell has now completed return to play protocols for concussion and will start at fullback and openside respectively.
Front rowers Duncan Casey and Stephen Archer make their first starts of the season with Jaco Taute to make his Munster debut from the start after being named at inside centre.
A late withdrawal from last weekend's win over Edinburgh, Donnacha Ryan has recovered from illness to form a brand new second row partnership with O'Shea.
In doing so, Ryan will win his 150th Munster cap and is the first member of the current squad to reach the milestone.
With Wootton named on the left wing, the final change to the starting XV is a positional one where captain Billy Holland switches to the back row.
Meanwhile Leinster academy player Steve Crosbie has signed a three-month development contract with Munster and will head south at the start of October.
The 23-year-old outhalf made two Pro12 appearances during his time in the academy and represented Ireland U20s during the 2013 6 Nations and World Championship.
Munster: Simon Zebo; Darren Sweetnam, Keith Earls, Jaco Taute, Alex Wootton; Tyler Bleyendaal, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Duncan Casey, Stephen Archer; Donnacha Ryan, Darren O'Shea; Billy Holland – capt., Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, James Cronin, John Ryan, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Oliver, Duncan Williams, Ian Keatley, Cian Bohane.
Ireland captain Rory Best will make his first start of the season for Ulster, while Tommy Bowe could figure for the first time in five months when Ospreys visit Kingspan Stadium on Saturday [6.30pm].
Les Kiss has made eight changes to the side who started last weeks 22-17 defeat of Glasgow Warriors in Scotstoun.
Best, who played 35 minutes against Glasgow last Friday, will be joined in the front row by the returning Kyle McCall and Rodney Ah You, who has impressed at tight-head in the opening rounds.
Bowe has been plagued by injuries in recent years but will hope to make a return to action after being named in the replacements.
Franco van der Merwe will captain the side in the absence of Rob Herring and Andrew Trimble, who will sit out this week due to squad management and recovery from a foot injury respectively.
Van der Merwe will be joined in the second row by Alan O'Connor for the second week in succession.
The back row trio of Iain Henderson, Sean Reidy and Roger Wilson, which functioned so effectively in last week's victory in Glasgow, are retained.
Paul Marshall and Paddy Jackson will make up an experienced partnership at at half-back, with no less than 282 caps for the Province between them.
Charles Piutau has reverted to full back and will be joined in the back three by Louis Ludik on the left wing and Craig Gilroy, who missed out last week through injury, on the right. Jared Payne will start the game at number 13 alongside Darren Cave, who shifts across to inside centre.
Tommy Bowe is in line to make his first appearance in an Ulster jersey in almost five months as he is named among the replacements alongside fellow backs Ruan Pienaar and Brett Herron.
John Andrew, Callum Black, Ross Kane, Kieran Treadwell and Robbie Diack will provide the forwards cover from the bench.
Ulster: Charles Piutau, Craig Gilroy, Jared Payne, Darren Cave, Louis Ludik, Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall; Kyle McCall, Rory Best, Rodney Ah You, Alan O'Connor, Franco van der Merwe, Iain Henderson, Sean Reidy, Roger Wilson
Replacements: J Andrew, C Black, R Kane, K Treadwell, R Diack, Ruan Pienaar, B Herron, Tommy Bowe.
Leo Cullen has rung the changes for Leinster's trip to Cardiff Blues on Saturday [7.35pm].
Zane Kirchner and Dave Kearney continue at full back and on the left wing respectively but Fergus McFadden returns from injury on the right wing for his first start since the opening win against Treviso in which he kicked a penalty and a conversion in a 20-8 victory.
Noel Reid continues at inside centre but is partnered for the first time this season by Rory O'Loughlin, who makes his maiden competitive start for Leinster having appeared as a replacement in two games so far.
Jamison Gibson-Park starts at scrumhalf with Johnny Sexton captaining the side from No 10.
In the pack it's a new front row with Jack McGrath, James Tracy and Mike Ross lining up, while locking down behind them Mick Kearney is joined for his Leinster debut by Ian Nagle, who came to the province during the summer but has been out with a shoulder injury over the last few weeks.
Nagle last played in the Pro12 in December 2013 for Munster against Scarlets in a 16-10 sucess.
In the back row two replacements from last week, Dan Leavy and Rhys Ruddock, start at blind side and No 8 respectively, while Josh van der Flier starts at open side having scored two tries in a man of the match performance last Friday.
Leinster: Zane Kirchner, Fergus McFadden, Rory O'Loughlin, Noel Reid, Dave Kearney, Johnny Sexton (Capt), Jamison Gibson-Park; Jack McGrath, James Tracy, Mike Ross, Mick Kearney, Ian Nagle, Dan Leavy, Josh van der Flier, Rhys Ruddock
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Peter Dooley, Michael Bent, Devin Toner, Jamie Heaslip, Nick McCarthy, Joey Carbery, Barry Daly
Pro12 champions Connacht have made two changes to the side beaten by Scarlets last weekend as they bid for a first win of the season against Edinburgh on Friday (7.35pm)
Peter Robb returns to the starting XV to partner Bundee Aki in midfield in an otherwise unchanged backline.
In the pack, 25-year-old Conor Carey [above] makes his Connacht debut starting in the front row with Denis Buckley and Tom McCartney.
Commenting on the upcoming game, Pat Lam said: "We're back at the Sportsground and really looking forward to the challenge.
"We are under no illusions as to the threat that Edinburgh pose, and the physicality they will bring to the contest.
“We are determined to continue improving in our game as we look to earn the points that are available."
Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Peter Robb, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Conor Carey, Quinn Roux, Ultan Dillane, Eoin McKeon, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (capt).
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Ronan Loughney, Finlay Bealham, Lewis Stevenson, James Connolly, Caolin Blade, Shane O'Leary, Cian Kelleher.
