Connacht have opted for a new half-back pairing for Saturday's historic BKT United Rugby Championship clash with Leinster at a sold-out Dexcom Stadium (kick-off 5.30pm).
An all-time record attendance of over 12,000 will be present for the official opening of the new Clan Stand, with head coach Stuart Lancaster making three changes to the side that comprehensively beat Montauban last week.
Two of those changes are in the half-backs, with a new pairing of the fit-again Caolin Blade and Josh Ioane at 9 and 10, respectively, while Dylan Tierney-Martin is named at hooker after Dave Heffernan was ruled out due to injury.
Connacht have only won two of their last seven games in all competitions, both victories being facile wins against weak Challenge Cup opposition, and you'd have to go back to the end of November for their last win of great value, while Leinster have won nine on the spin.
Cian Prendergast will lead the team out from blindside flanker, joined by Paul Boyle and Sean Jansen in the backrow. Josh Murphy and Darragh Murray continue in the second row, while academy prop Billy Bohan starts alongside Dylan Tierney-Martin and Sam Illo in the front row.
Cathal Forde and Harry West continue at centre after impressive displays in the Challenge Cup, as do the back three of wingers Finn Treacy and Shane Jennings, and full-back Sam Gilbert.
Ireland international Bundee Aki is among the replacements, where further experience is provided by Jack Carty and prop Denis Buckley.
Opponents Leinster will hand a debut to prop Niall Smyth while captain Caelan Doris will make his 100th appearance for the province.
New York-born Smyth (pictured above) has been handed the number three shirt and will be joined in the front row by Gus McCarthy and Jack Boyle.
RG Snyman joins James Ryan in the engine room while centurion Doris is flanked on either side by Will Connors and Alex Soroka.
Harry Byrne starts at out-half with Fintan Gunne at scrum-half, while Charlie Tector partners Garry Ringrose in the centre.
James Lowe, who stands just one try shy of equalling Shane Horgan's all-time record of 69 Leinster tries, returns to the team for his first outing since last month's win over Munster, with Joshua Kenny named on the opposite wing and Ciarán Frawley at full-back.
Rónan Kelleher, Jerry Cahir and Andrew Sparrow offer cover for the front row while Brian Deeny, Jack Conan and Scott Penny provide the heft in a 6/2 split, with Luke McGrath and Ruben Moloney completing the replacements.
Connacht: Sam Gilbert; Shane Jennings, Harry West, Cathal Forde, Finn Treacy; Josh Ioane, Caolin Blade; Billy Bohan, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Sam Illo; Josh Murphy, Darragh Murray; Cian Prendergast (capt), Paul Boyle, Sean Jansen.
Replacements: Eoin de Buitléar, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Joe Joyce, Sean O’Brien, Ben Murphy, Jack Carty, Bundee Aki.
Leinster: Ciarán Frawley; Joshua Kenny, Garry Ringrose, Charlie Tector, James Lowe; Harry Byrne, Fintan Gunne; Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Niall Smyth; RG Snyman, James Ryan; Alex Soroka, Will Connors, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Jerry Cahir, Andrew Sparrow, Brian Deeny, Diarmuid Mangan, Scott Penny, Luke McGrath, Ruben Moloney.
Fresh after signing a new deal to stay on as Ulster's head coach for at least the next two years, Richie Murphy makes four changes for his team to face Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).
Iain Henderson will captain the province alongside Charlie Irvine in the second row, while Angus Bell returns in the front row, where he will have hooker Tom O’Toole and Tom Stewart for company.
The back row trio remains unchanged, with David McCann at blindside flanker, Nick Timoney at openside and academy forward, Bryn Ward.
Scrum-half Nathan Doak will become a centurion for the province, partnered at half-back by Jack Murphy.
Stuart McCloskey and James Hume continue in midfield, while South African winger Werner Kok comes back in to start on the left wing, with Robert Baloucoune on the other side.
Michael Lowry returns from an ankle injury to start at full-back.
Ulster: Michael Lowry; Robert Baloucoune, Jame Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Werner Kok; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Angus Bell, Tom Stewart, Tom O’Toole; Iain Henderson (capt), Charlie Irvine; David McCann, Nick Timoney, Bryn Ward.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Eric O’Sullivan, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Matthew Dalton, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Jude Postlethwaite.
