Munster have left a vacancy in their back row for the opening defence of their title against Connacht at the Sportsground on Saturday pending the availability of flanker Eddie Halvey after a family bereavement last weekend.
In the only other change from the team which recorded the second win of their two-match Scottish tour last Saturday, centre Michael Lynch returns from injury. Killian Keane and John Hayes were the only players ruled out by injury.
Connacht coach Warren Gatland has moved the free-running Pat Duignan from full back to centre to lend some bite to his midfield, with Ballina's Willie Ruane coming in at full back after an impressive appearance as substitute in the narrow defeat to Scottish Borders.
Connacht: W Ruane (Ballina); N Barry (Clontarf), P Duignan (Galwegians), S Allnutt (Corinthians), N Carolan; E Elwood (both Galwegians), C McGuinness (St Mary's), J Maher (Bective Rangers), B Mulcahy (Skerries), M Finlay (Blackrock), G Heaslip (Galwegians), M McConnell (Buccaneers), R Rogers (Blackrock), B Gavin, J Charlie (Galwegians). Replacements: R Ward (Old Belvedere), M Cahill (Bohemians), B Jackman (Clontarf), M O'Neill (Blackrock), D Reddan (Galwegians), M Murphy (Galwegians), R Southam (Suttonians).
Munster: D Crotty (Garryowen); A Horgan (Cork Constitution), S McCahill (Sunday's Well), M Lynch (Young Munster), A Thompson (Shannon); R O'Gara, B O'Meara; I Murray (all Cork Constitution), P Cunning- ham (Garryowen), P Clohessy (Young Munster), M Galwey (Shannon), capt, S Leahy (Garryowen), A N Other, A Foley (Shannon), D Wallace (Garryowen). Replacements: C Mahony (Dolphin), S McIvor (Garryowen), G Walsh (Garryowen), N Healy (Shannon), F Sheehan, K Murphy (both Cork Constitution), AN Other.
