Alex Nankivell has been hit with a two-match ban after he failed in his appeal against his red card in last weekend's BKT United Rugby Championship win against Connacht, and will miss Munster's Investec Champions Cup last-16 meeting with La Rochelle in France.
The centre faced a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday where he appealed his sending off, after he had made head contact with Connacht's Cian Prendergast.
A URC statement read: "After an act of foul play by Munster player No 12 (Alex Nankivell), referee Craig Evans showed the Player a Red Card in the 25th minute of the game under Law 9.20a – A player must not charge into a ruck or maul. Charging includes any contact made without binding onto another player in the ruck or maul.
"The Panel overseeing the disciplinary process John Kirk (Chair, Scotland), Stefan Terblanche and Neil Snellenburg (South Africa) found that the incident was reckless and met the Red Card threshold under Law 9.20b (A Player must not make contact with an opponent above the line of the shoulders) with entry of low-end warranting a two-game suspension."
Nankivell drops out of the side among four changes from the 30-24 win, with Thaakir Abrahams and Peter O'Mahony both returning from injury for the game against Ronan O'Gara's side.
Abrahams returns from a dislocated shoulder at full-back, replacing Ben O'Connor in the side, as Andrew Smith - on loan from Connacht - comes in for Nankivell.
Smith starts on the left wing, with Sean O'Brien shifting into the centre to partner Tom Farrell. Craig Casey and Jack Crowley continue in the half-backs.
The front row is unchanged, Diarmuid Barron packing down at hooker in between props Jeremy Loughman and Oli Jager.
Jean Kleyn is promoted to the starting team to partner captain Tadhg Beirne at lock, while Fineen Wycherley drops to the bench.
Peter O'Mahony has recovered from injury to start ahead of Tom Ahern at bindside flanker, with John Hodnett starting at openside, and Gavin Coombes at number 8.
Munster Rugby: Thaakir Abrahams; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Seán O'Brien, Andrew Smith; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Tadhg Beirne (captain); Peter O’Mahony, John Hodnett, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Tom Ahern, Conor Murray, Rory Scannell, Alex Kendellen.
Rónan Kelleher (above) has lost his race to be involved in Leinster's game with Harlequins at Croke Park, a neck injury keeping him out.
Earlier in the week, the province said they would decide on the Ireland international's involvement later in the week but he has not been included in a squad that, as expected, shows wholesale changes from the URC win over the Sharks in Durban.
Max Deegan, player of the match in that win, has been included in the replacements.
The starting back row features captain Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan while Joe McCarthy has been named in the second row alongside RG Snyman, as James Ryan misses out due to injury.
Dan Sheehan starts at hooker with Andrew Porter and Rabah Slimani either side of him.
Sam Prendergast is named at 10, with Jamison Gibson-Park partnering him at half-back.
Robbie Henshaw will move onto 99 Leinster caps as he joins Garry Ringrose in the centre, while James Lowe and Jamie Osborne start on the wings with Hugo Keenan at full-back.
Jordie Barrett is amongst the replacements.
Leinster: Hugo Keenan, Jamie Osborne, Garry Ringrose, Robbie Henshaw, James Lowe, Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Rabah Slimani, Joe McCarthy, RG Snyman; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt)
Replacements: Gus McCarthy, Jack Boyle, Tadhg Furlong, Ryan Baird, Max Deegan Luke McGrath, Ross Byrne, Jordie Barrett.
Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has largely stuck with the same side that defeated Stormers last week, as they look to pull off an upset away to Bordeaux-Begles on Sunday.
The province show just two changes from the starting team that picked up a bonus-point win against the South Africans last week, as Zac Ward (above) and James McNabney come into the team.
Rob Herring makes his 250th appearance for the province at hooker, with Andrew Warwick and Tom O'Toole continuing at prop, while the second-row partnership of Alan O'Connor and Kieran Treadwell is also retained.
McNabney returns to the side at blindside flanker, joining Nick Timoney and David McCann in a powerful back row.
Ward is included on the right wing following an injury to Rob Baloucoune, and the rest of the backline is unchenged.
Mike Lowry continues at full-back, with in-form Jacob Stockdale on the left wing.
James Hume and Stuart McCloskey pair up in the centre, with Jack Murphy and John Cooney marshalling the backline.
Ulster: Michael Lowry; Zac Ward, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Murphy, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole; Alan O’Connor (capt), Kieran Treadwell; James McNabney, Nick Timoney, David McCann.
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Callum Reid, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton, Matty Rea, Nathan Doak, Aidan Morgan, Stewart Moore.
Connacht have made five changes from the side that lost to Munster in Castlebar for Saturday's Challenge Cup last-16 clash with Cardiff at Dexcom Stadium (8pm).
Shayne Bolton (above) has recovered from a foot injury to start on the right wing, while there is a new half-back pairing of Matthew Devine and JJ Hanrahan.
Bundee Aki and Hugh Gavin continue at centre, with Finn Treacy on the left wing and Mack Hansen at full back.
There are two changes to the forwards, with Oisín Dowling coming into the second row and Josh Murphy starting in place of the injured Cian Prendergast.
The front row of Jordan Duggan, captain Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham is unchanged, while Darragh Murray, Shamus Hurley-Langton and Sean Jansen complete the pack.
The Westerners qualified for the knock-out stages as top seeds after winning their four pool games, including a 28-19 victory away to the same opponents.
Connacht: Mack Hansen; Shayne Bolton, Hugh Gavin, Bundee Aki, Finn Treacy; JJ Hanrahan, Matthew Devine; Jordan Duggan, Dave Heffernan (capt), Finlay Bealham; Oisín Dowling, Darragh Murray; Josh Murphy, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Sean Jansen.
Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Niall Murray, Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade, Josh Ioane, Piers O’Conor.
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