Connacht have made six changes for the visit of Ulster on Sunday evening in the Pro14 encounter at The Sportsground.
Eoghan Masterson will make his 100th Connacht appearance. He has deputised in the second row but will return to his favoured back-row position.
He's named at blindside flanker with Conor Oliver on the opposite flank and captain Jarrad Butler returning to the starting side in the number 8 position.
Shane Delahunt, Quinn Roux, Caolin Blade, Tom Daly and Tiernan O'Halloran also come into the starting XV.
Delahunt lines out in a front row with Denis Buckley and Finlay Bealham, while Roux returns from a two-week absence to partner Ultan Dillane.
Blade and Fitzgerald form a new half-back partnership with the in-form Daly comes in at inside centre alongside Sammy Arnold. John Porch moves to the wing with O’Halloran starting at full-back and Matt Healy on the opposite wing.
Head Coach Andy Friend said: "Reaching 100 caps for any club is a huge achievement so I’d like to congratulate Eoghan Masterson on the milestone.
"Building squad depth has been a key objective for us, so we are fortunate to be able to make most of these changes not because of injuries but to keep the squad fresh and give players their deserved opportunities.
"No doubt Ulster will be disappointed with their European results, but their Pro14 form this season speaks for itself. Both sets of players and coaches know each other well at this stage so it’s all about sticking to our systems and taking our chances when they come."
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran, John Porch, Sammy Arnold, Tom Daly, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade
Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux, Eoghan Masterson, Conor Oliver, Jarrad Butler
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Jordan Duggan, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Gavin Thornbury, Sean Masterson, Kieran Marmion, Sean O’Brien, Colm de Buitléar
Ben Moxham could make his Ulster debut during the game in Galway as Kyle McCall and Tom O’Toole finally return to their starting XV.
Michael Lowry is named at full-back, with academy prospect Ethan McIlroy and Craig Gilroy starting on the left and right wings respectively.
Stewart Moore returns to the midfield with James Hume retaining his starting berth. Ian Madigan is named at fly-half, with Alby Mathewson starting at scrum-half.
In the front row, McCall and O’Toole will be joined by John Andrew at hooker. Alan O’Connor will captain the side from the second row, with the returning Kieran Teadwell joining him in the engine room. Greg Jones comes in to start at blindside flanker, while Jordi Murphy and Nick Timoney are retained at openside and Number Eight.
Moxham is named among the back line replacements with David Shanahan and Matt Faddes. Bradley Roberts, Andrew Warwick, Marty Moore, David O’Connor and Matty Rea will offer forward cover from the bench.
Ulster: Michael Lowry, Craig Gilroy, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Ethan McIlroy, Ian Madigan, Alby Mathewson;
Kyle McCall, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole, Alan O’Connor (Capt.), Kieran Treadwell, Greg Jones, Jordi Murphy, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: Bradley Roberts, Andrew Warwick, Marty Moore, David O’Connor, Matty Rea, David Shanahan, Ben Moxham, Matt Faddes.
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