Andrew Conway will play his first competitive game for almost 18 months when Munster kick their BKT United Rugby Championship season off against the Sharks on Saturday (5.15pm).
The Ireland international hasn't played since May 2022 due to a long-term knee injury, but starts on the right wing for the defending champions in their season opener at Thomond Park.
Six of the side are retained from the URC final win against the Stormers in May, including Calvin Nash who starts on the left wing, and Shane Daly who switched to full-back.
Scrum-half Ethan Coughlan makes his first start for the province, and the Clareman partners Joey Carbery behind the scrum.
Antoine Frische continues at outside centre, with Rory Scannell joining him in midfield.
Up front, there's a 50th appearance for loosehead Josh Wycherley, who joins Stephen Archer and Diarmuid Barron in the front row.
Edwin Edogbo and Fineen Wycherley pack down in the second row, while Gavin Coombes starts at number eight, in between captain Jack O'Donoghue and Alex Kendellen.
There are several potential debuts off the bench for Graham Rowntree's side, with academy trio Kieran Ryan, Brian Gleeson and Shay McCarthy included.
Gleeson starred for the Ireland U20 side who reached the Junior World Championship final in the summer, and scored two tries in the recent friendly win against the Barbarians.
New signing Alex Nankivell also comes in to join the replacements, while Scott Buckley, Tom Ahern, Neil Cronin and the returning John Ryan selected.
Munster: Shane Daly; Andrew Conway, Antoine Frisch, Rory Scannell, Calvin Nash; Joey Carbery, Ethan Coughlan; Josh Wycherley, Diarmuid Barron, Stephen Archer; Edwin Edogbo, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O'Donoghue (C), Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Scott Buckley, Kieran Ryan, John Ryan, Tom Ahern, Brian Gleeson, Neil Cronin, Alex Nankivell, Shay McCarthy.
Elsewhere, Scott Penny (above) captains the Leinster team for the first time in a competitive fixture when they take on Glasgow in Scotstoun (4pm Sunday).
Ciarán Frawley starts at full-back, with Tommy O’Brien and Jordan Larmour on the wings.
Liam Turner and Charlie Ngatai are in the centre, with Harry Byrne and Luke McGrath completing the back line.In the pack, Jack Boyle starts a competitive game for the first time.
He is joined in the front row by John McKee and Thomas Clarkson. Ross Molony and Jason Jenkins are in the heart of the pack with Max Deegan, Penny and James Culhane in the back row.
Among the replacements, academy props Paddy McCarthy and Rory McGuire are in line to make their Leinster debuts, while Rhys Ruddock provides over 220 caps of experience off the bench.
Leinster: Ciarán Frawley; Tommy O'Brien, Liam Turner, Charlie Ngatai, Jordan Larmour; Harry Byrne, Luke McGrath; Jack Boyle, John McKee, Thomas Clarkson; Ross Molony, Jason Jenkins; Max Deegan, Scott Penny (capt), James Culhane.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Paddy McCarthy, Rory McGuire, Brian Deeny, Rhys Ruddock, Cormac Foley, Sam Prendergast, Will Connors.
Meanwhile, Tom Farrell (above) will become the latest Connacht centurion when he lines out in Saturday's opener against Ospreys at The Sportsground (3pm).
Farrell joined Connacht in 2017 from Bedford Blues and has become a key member of the squad from outside centre, scoring 19 tries.
There are also debuts for up to six summer signings with Joe Joyce, JJ Hanrahan and Andrew Smith are named in the starting XV, while Tadgh McElroy, Seán O’Brien and Liam McNamara could earn their first Connacht caps if called upon from the bench.
The rest of the matchday squad has a settled look to it, with a front row of Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin and Jack Aungier.
Lock Oisin Dowling partners Joyce, while the backrow sees number 8 Jarrad Butler joined by flankers Cian Prendergast and Shamus Hurley-Langton.
Scrum-half Caolin Blade is named as captain, while centre Cathal Forde starts alongside Farrell.
Wingers Byron Ralston and Diarmuid Kilgallen complete the side with Smith selected at full-back..
Connacht: Andrew Smith; Diarmuid Kilgallen, Tom Farrell, Cathal Forde, Byron Ralston; JJ Hanrahan, Caolin Blade (capt); Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Jack Aungier; Oisín Dowling, Joe Joyce; Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Jarrad Butler.
Replacements: Tadgh McElroy, Peter Dooley, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Niall Murray, Seán O'Brien, Colm Reilly, Jack Carty, Liam McNamara.
Ulster will have debuts to new signings Greg McGrath and Dave Ewers in Saturday's season opener (1pm Irish time) away to Zebre, while there is also the much anticipated return of full-back Will Addison (above).
It's just over two years to the day since the Ireland international's last competitive appearance, following a horrific broken leg against the Lions.
Addison starts at full-back having featured in the side's pre-season games, while Mike Lowry has a rare start on the right wing with Jacob Stockdale on the left.
James Hume takes the 13 shirt as usual where he's partnered by Angus Curtis, while former Munster man Jake Flannery has been given the start ahead of Billy Burns at out-half, partnering Nathan Doak.
Up front, former Connacht prop McGrath comes straight into the side following his recent arrival from Jersey Reds, with Tom Stewart captaining the side at hooker, and Andrew Warwick completing the front row.
Matty Rea joins Kieran Treadwell at lock, with Ewers, Marcus Rea and Dave McCann completing the side.
There's another potential debut on the bench with James French named among the subs after joining from Munster, while Nick Timoney, Billy Burns and Stewart Moore are also included in reserve.
Ulster: Will Addison; Mike Lowry, James Hume, Angus Curtis, Jacob Stockdale; Billy Burns, Nathan Doak; Andrew Warwick, Ton Stewart (capt), Greg McGrath; Matty Rea, Kieran Treadwell; Dave Ewers, Marcus Rea, David McCann.
Replacements: John Andrew, Callum Reid, James French, Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, David Shanahan, Billy Burns, Stewart Moore.
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