Munster's injury list is growing just one game into the season, with Craig Casey and Alex Kendellen the latest high-profile players to be ruled out for the province.
Casey has picked up a thigh injury in training, with the province yet to put a timeline on the knock, while Kendellen could miss up to eight weeks after surgery on an ankle issue.
Injuries have forced head coach Clayton McMillan into making six changes for Saturday’s United Rugby Championship meeting with Cardiff at Thomond Park.
Paddy Patterson comes in for Casey at scrum-half, while Jack Crowley also comes into the first team at out-half, with JJ Hanrahan ruled out due to concussion.
Mike Haley picked up a minor thigh injury which will sideline him for a couple of weeks, with Ben O’Connnor taking his place at full-back.
Shane Daly and Thaakir Abrahams start on the wings, while Dan Kelly and Alex Nankivell start in the centre, having impressed as a partnership in last week’s win at Scarlets.
McMillan has retained his front five from last week’s win, with Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell (below) and Oli Jager starting in the front row, with Scannell captaining the team from hooker.
Jean Kleyn and Fineen Wycherley pack down together at lock, with Tadhg Beirne still a couple of weeks away from being available for selection.
It’s a fully-changed back row for the openig home game of the season as Tom Ahern comes in for Jack O’Donoghue at blindside flanker, and Ruadhán Quinn taking the place of the injured Kendellen at openside.
Gavin Coombes is promoted to the starting team at number 8, with Brian Gleeson on the bench.
Former Ireland U20 prop Ronan Foxe is set for just his third Munster appearance off the bench, with loosehead prop Conor Bartley joining Michael Milne and John Ryan among the injuries.
However, the province expect Milne and Ryan, as well as centre Tom Farrell and wing Andrew Smith, to return to training next week.
Munster: Ben O’Connor, Shane Daly, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Jack Crowley, Ethan Coughlan; Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell (capt), Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Tom Ahern, Ruadhán Quinn, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Ronan Foxe, Jack O’Donoghue, Brian Gleeson, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Seán O’Brien.
Listen to the RTÉ Rugby podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
