Connacht have made four changes and one positional switch ahead of Saturday's round-five clash with the Borders at the Sportsground.

Conor O'Loughlin and Eric Elwood will make their first competitive starts of the season, at scrumhalf and outhalf. O'Loughlin comes in for the injured Tom Tierney while Elwood comes in for Matt Mostyn with Paul Warwick moving to outside centre.

James Downey returns from injury to replace the injured Mark McHugh at inside centre. The final change is in the pack with John Fogarty replacing the injured Bernard Jackman.

There are a number of changes on the bench with Henry Bourke, Christian Short, John Muldoon and Justin Meagher all returning while Mike Walls will be among the replacements for the first time this season. Matt Mostyn, Michael Swift, Michael Carroll and Darren Yapp were also not considered because of injury.

Saturday's game will mark Connacht Rugby Ladies Day with all women attending being admitted for free to all areas of the ground.

CONNACHT: David Slemen; Niall O'Brien, Paul Warwick, James Downey, Conor McPhillips; Eric Elwood, Conor O'Loughlin; Dan McFarland, John Fogarty, Peter Bracken, Pieter Myburgh, Andrew Farley, Paul Neville, Matt Lacey, John O'Sullivan. Replacements: Henry Bourke, Adrian Clarke, Christian Short, John Muldoon, Mike Walls, Ted Robinson, Justin Meagher.