Mack Hansen will start at full-back for Connacht in Friday night's BKT United Rugby Championship meeting with Ulster, as Pete Wilkins makes seven changes to his side for the Interpro in Belfast.
Hansen suffered a recurrence of a foot injury in their Round 1 Champions Cup defeat to Bordeaux earlier this month, but has been cleared for a return to start in the 15 shirt, with fellow Ireland internationals Bundee Aki and Finlay Bealham also named in the team.
The 25-year-old is the only backline change from the 55-36 defeat to Saracens a week ago, coming in for John Porch at full-back. Meanwhile there is one positional switch, as Shayne Bolton and Byron Ralston swap wings.
Aki partners Tom Farrell in the centre once again, while Jack Carty retains his place at out-half, starting outside Caolin Blade.
Bealham comes back into the side in an all new front row, with Denis Buckley and Tadhg McElroy also drafted in.
Darragh Murray stays in the second row where he's partnered by the returning Joe Joyce.
The final two changes see Shamus Hurley-Langton and Sean O'Brien start in the back row alongside Cian Prendergast.
Hosts Ulster give a first start of the season to openside flanker Sean Reffell, who returns from a long-term injury.
The 25-year-old, who joined from Saracens in the summer of 2022, has been sidelined since suffering a serious ankle injury last January, and comes in as one of six changes from their 31-15 win against Racing 92 last week.
Just one of those changes comes in the backline, with Jake Flannery (above) starting at out-half, after Billy Burns was ruled out with an arm injury.
Flannery partners John Cooney at half-back, while Stuart McCloskey and James Hume link up in the centre. There's also a familiar back three, with Dan McFarland opting for first team regulars Jacob Stockdale, Rob Baloucoune and Mike Lowry.
Up front, McFarland has chosen to rotate. Tom Stewart comes in for injured hooker Rob Herring, while props Andrew Warwick and Marty Moore replace for Steven Kitshoff and Tom O'Toole who drop to the bench.
Iain Henderson continues in the second row to captain the side, while he's joined there by Kieran Treadwell, who gets the nod above Alan O'Connor.
Reffell's inclusion in the back row sees a positional reshuffle, with Nick Timoney moving to number 8, and Matty Rea shifting across to blindside flanker.
Ulster: Mike Lowry; Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jake Flannery, John Cooney; Andy Warwick, Tom Stewart, Marty Moore; Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson (capt); Matty Rea, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney
Replacements: John Andrew, Steven Kitshoff, Tom O'Toole, Al O’Connor, Dave Ewers, Nathan Doak, Jude Postlethwaite, Will Addison
Connacht: Mack Hansen; Shayne Bolton, Tom Farrell, Bundee Aki, Byron Ralston; Jack Carty (capt), Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Tadgh McElroy, Finlay Bealham; Darragh Murray, Joe Joyce; Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Sean O'Brien
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Peter Dooley, Jack Aungier, Gavin Thornbury, Conor Oliver, Michael McDonald, JJ Hanrahan, Shane Jennings
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Watch Munster v Leinster in the BKT United Rugby Championship on 26 December from 7pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1, and follow a live blog on www.rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app.
