Leinster have been dealt a blow ahead of tomorrow's Investec Champions Cup clash with La Rochelle with three of their frontline prop forwards missing.
Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter and Rabah Slimani are not named in Leo Cullen's squad for the Aviva Stadium Pool 3 clash (5.30pm).
Furlong and Slimani both missed the URC win over Connacht last weekend but Porter came off the bench and was able to cover the loosehead and tighthead positions.
Ireland props Paddy McCarthy and Thomas Clarkson will start with Jerry Cahir and Andrew Sparrow named on the bench.
The pair are set for their Champions Cup debuts and have made just three and two senior appearances, respectively, to date.
Sam Prendergast is named at out-half with Harry Byrne on the bench, while there is also a European debut for JJ Kenny (below) on the right wing.
Tommy O'Brien is on the opposite side and Ciarán Frawley is named at full-back.
Jamison Gibson-Park starts at scrum-half, while Robbie Henshaw will partner Rieko Ioane in the centre.
Paddy McCarthy and Clarkson will scrum down on either side of Dan Sheehan in the front row as Joe McCarthy and James Ryan make up the second row.
Caelan Doris captains the team from number 8, with Jack Conan and Josh van der Flier completing the back row.
Rónan Kelleher, Diarmuid Mangan and Max Deegan are also among the forward cover on the bench.
Luke McGrath, Byrne and Andrew Osborne complete the matchday 23.
Meanwhile, Ronan O'Gara's side, who have lost the last three encounters between the teams, come fully loaded with Gregory Alldritt and Will Skelton among the pack.
Leinster: Ciaran Frawley; Tommy O'Brien, Rieko Ioane, Robbie Henshaw, Joshua Kenny; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Paddy McCarthy, Dan Sheehan, Tom Clarkson; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Jerry Cahir, Andrew Sparrow, Diarmuid Mangan, Max Deegan, Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne, Andrew Osborne.
La Rochelle: Dillyn Leyds; Jack Nowell, Jules Favre, Simeli Daunivucu, Davit Niniashvili; Ihaia West, Nolann le Garrec; Reda Wardi, Tolu Latu, Uini Atonio; Charles Kante Samba, Will Skelton; Oscar Jegou, Levani Botia, Gregory Alldritt (capt).
Replacements: Quentin Lespiaucq, Louis Penverne, Aleksandre Kuntelia, Kane Douglas, Kirill Fraindt, Thomas Berjon, Antoine Hastoy, Nathan Bollengier.
Tadhg Beirne (above) will captain Munster from the back row, with the versatile forward among 10 changes made by head coach Clayton McMillan for Sunday's crucial Pool 2 meeting with Toulon in France.
Beirne was rested for last week’s URC meeting with Ulster in Belfast, with Jack Crowley, Craig Casey and Gavin Coombes among those coming back into the side following the 28-3 hammering.
That quartet are among eight of this week’s XV who started Munster’s bonus-point win away to Toulon this time two years ago, along with Jeremy Loughman, Alex Nankivell, Shane Daly and Calvin Nash.
Ben O’Connor is among those to come into the side this week, with the former Ireland U20 full-back starting on the left wing after impressing in that position in the province’s Round 2 win against Gloucester in Cork.
Nash, who scored the bonus-point try in this fixture two years ago, starts on the right wing, with Daly returning to the side at full-back.
Nankivell has shaken off a shoulder issue to start in the centre, where he is joined by Tom Farrell, while Crowley and Casey return from a week off to marshal the team in the half-back spots.
Michael Ala’alatoa is the only survivor in the front row from last week, with Diarmuid Barron and Loughman returning to the side, and Niall Scannell, Michael Milne and John Ryan providing cover off the bench.
Jean Kleyn misses out with a calf injury, but Edwin Edogbo (above) is back in the starting team, joining Fineen Wycherley in the second row.
Beirne packs down at blindside flanker, with Jack O’Donoghue on the openside and Coombes starting at number 8.
Tom Ahern and Brian Gleeson will provide bench cover for the second and back row, with Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan and Dan Kelly the backline replacements.
Munster: Shane Daly; Calvin Nash, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Ben O’Connor; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Diarmuid Barron, Michael Ala’alatoa; Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley; Tadhg Beirne (C), Jack O’Donoghue, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Michael Milne, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Brian Gleeson, Paddy Patterson, JJ Hanrahan, Dan Kelly.
Richie Murphy will use the Challenge Cup as an opportunity to rotate his side, with the Ulster head coach making 10 changes to his team for their meeting with the Cheetahs in Amsterdam.
Ireland international Rob Herring (above) captains a largely inexperienced side for the Pool 3 clash, packing down with Sam Crean and Scott Wilson in a new front row.
Joe Hopes is the only forward retained by Murphy in his starting pack, with the 21-year-old joined by Harry Sheridan in the second row, who replaces Iain Henderson.
Back row trio Nick Timoney, Bryn Ward and Cormac Izuchukwu are all given the weekend off, with David McCann and Sean Reffell starting at flanker, and Lorcan McLoughlin earns his first start of the season at number 8.
Nathan Doak continues in the team at scrum-half, and Jake Flannery earns his second start of the season at out-half with Jack Murphy rested.
Jude Postlethwaite comes into the centre in place of Stuart McCloskey to join James Hume, with Werner Kok and Zac Ward retained on the wings.
Bradley McNamara makes his first Ulster start at full-back, with the 24-year-old having recently been called up to the province after excelling for Instonians in the All Ireland League.
Ulster: Bradley McNamara; Werner Kok, James Hume, Jude Postlethwaite, Zac Ward; Jake Flannery, Nathan Doak; Sam Crean, Rob Herring (capt), Scott Wilson; Harry Sheridan, Joe Hopes; Dave McCann, Sean Reffell, Lorcan McLoughlin
Replacements: James McCormick, Eric O'Sullivan, Bryan O'Connor, Matt Dalton, Marcus Rea, Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Ben Carson
Cian Prendergast (above) has shaken off a groin injury to captain Connacht in their daunting Challenge Cup Pool 1 clash with Montpellier in France.
The back row moves to blindside flanker, one of seven players retained by Stuart Lancaster in his starting team after last week's heavy defeat to Leinster.
Billy Bohan and Sam Illo come into the front row to partner Dylan Tierney-Martin, with Darragh Murray returning at second row to partner Josh Murphy.
Sean Jansen keeps his place at number 8, with Paul Boyle starting at openside flanker.
Ben Murphy is brought in for Matthew Devine at scrum-half, with Josh Ioane continuing in the 10 shirt.
There’s a new centre partnership of Cathal Forde and Harry West, with Shane Jennings and Finn Treacy on the wings, and Sam Gilbert continuing at full-back.
The province are set to hand out three debuts on the bench, with hooker Matthew Victory, scrum-half Albert Lindner and centre John Devine all among the replacements.
Connacht: Sam Gilbert; Shane Jennings, Harry West, Cathal Forde, Finn Treacy; Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Billy Bohan, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Sam Illo; Darragh Murray, Josh Murphy; Cian Prendergast (capt), Paul Boyle, Sean Jansen
Replacements: Matthew Victory, Peter Dooley, Fiachna Barrett, Niall Murray, Sean O'Brien, Albert Lindner, Sean Walsh, John Devine
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