Ulster winger Tommy Bowe will make his first start in six months while Connacht head coach Pat Lam makes six changes to his team for the inter-provincial derby at the Sportsground on Friday (KO 7.35pm).
The Ireland international made his return to action during the final 20 minutes of the 9-7 victory over Ospreys at Kingspan Stadium last weekend and after coming through unscathed, Director of Rugby Les Kiss has rewarded him with a place on the right wing.
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Bowe will be joined in the back three by Craig Gilroy and Jared Payne, who will captain the side from full-back.
Darren Cave retains his place at inside centre where he will be joined in the midfield by Louis Ludik, with Charles Piutau ruled out after picking up an injury against the Ospreys.
With Ruan Pienaar rested, Paddy Jackson, who kicked all of Ulster's points last weekend, including the last minute penalty to win the game, will once again be joined by Paul Marshall at half-back.
In the pack, Callum Black comes into the front row alongside Rory Best and Rodney Ah You, who will come up against his former team.
Robbie Diack and Pete Browne will start together in the second row, while Clive Ross comes in at openside flanker to partner Iain Henderson and Roger Wilson in the back row.
Ulster: J Payne (C); T Bowe, L Ludik, D Cave, C Gilroy; P Jackson, P Marshall; C Black, R Best, R Ah You, R Diack, P Browne, I Henderson, C Ross, R Wilson;
Replacements: R Herring, A Warwick, R Kane, K Treadwell, S Reidy, D Shanahan, B Herron, R Lyttle.
Pat Lam meanwhile has made a number of enforced changes to the team that secured the reigning champions their first win of the Guinness PRO12 season over Edinburgh last time out.
Cian Kelleher, a try scorer last weekend, will start on the left wing in place of the injured Matt Healy. Peter Robb and Kieran Marmion both failed a late fitness tests, with Craig Ronaldson set to make his first appearance of the season at centre and Caolin Blade getting the nod at scrum half.
Hooker Dave Heffernan will make his seasonal bow, while returning Ireland international Finlay Bealham comes in at loosehead with Denis Buckley ruled out.
Galway man Andrew Browne returns from injury to make his first appearance of the season and partners Ultan Dillane in the second row.
Adding to Lam's injury woes, Quinn Roux is unavailable this week having picked up a knock while training with Ireland earlier in the week.
Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran; Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Cian Kelleher; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Finlay Bealham, Dave Heffernan, Conor Carey; Ultan Dillane, Andrew Browne; Eoin McKeon, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon (C)
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Ronan Loughney, JP Cooney, Lewis Stevenson, James Connolly, Stephen Kerins.
