Celtic League: Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made five changes to the team which hammered The Borders for Friday night's Celtic League clash with Leinster at Donnybrook. Captain Tim Allnutt is reinstated to the backline, as is leading try scorer Conor McPhillips.
Scrumhalf Mike Walls was injured the last day so Chris Keane starts at number nine. Bradley has championed a rotation policy - he has used 31 players in six matches - so Bernard Jackman returns at hooker with Michael Swift coming in at blindside flanker, as Connacht aim to win a sixth game in seven outings.
The legacy of Leinster's 22-3 defeat by Cardiff last weekend is manifest in the absence of John Lyne (broken fibula) and Aidan McCullen (broken arm).
Captain Leo Cullen may play against Connacht, but medical opinion suggests he needs an operation on his shoulder. The consultant is away, so the Blackrock player may take the field.
Coach Gary Ella is further handicapped by minor injuries to scrumhalves Brian O'Riordan (back) and Brian O'Meara (calf) and flanker Shane Jennings.
There are several either/ors in a probable team, with the possibility that James O'Donovan could be introduced to the bench.
Peter Coyle is expected to start at loosehead with Niall Breslin favourite to take over from McCullen at blindside flanker.
Ulster have announced an unchanged team from that which beat Munster 16-15 in their Celtic League clash at Musgrave Park last Friday night for this weekend's game against the Celtic Warriors. Alan Solomons makes just a single change to the squad, with hooker Matt Sexton restored to the bench after proving his fitness.
Solomons admitted: "The last two weeks have been very good for us because we've had to fight hard for our victories. Wins like these generate confidence, but we're keeping our feet firmly on the ground. The Celtic Warriors are one of the better sides in the Celtic League and they have experience in key areas."
The latter comment is a reference to record Welsh points scorer Neil Jenkins, amongst others; the outhalf already leads the way in the Celtic League points scoring stakes.
Munster have delayed naming their side until today as they monitor injuries to second rows Dave Pusey and Eddie Halvey. Both picked up knocks in the province's defeat to Ulster.
Pusey, who started the match, sustained a leg injury while Halvey, a second-half replacement for the Australian, damaged his neck and shoulder at a ruck. Both are considered doubtful.
Coach Alan Gaffney is still without flanker Denis Leamy (shoulder) and Jason Holland (knee), but better news is the return of captain Jim Williams.
CONNACHT: M McHugh; M Mostyn, D Yapp, T Allnutt (capt), C McPhillips; E Elwood, C Keane; R Hogan, B Jackman, F Boiroux; D Browne, A Farley; M Swift, J O'Sullivan, T Carter. Replacements: J Fogarty, A Clarke, M McCarthy, P Neville, C O'Loughlin, D Hewitt, S Moore.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; S Young, S Mallon, S Stewart, T Howe; A Larkin, K Campbell; R McCormack, P Shields, R Moore; M Mustchin, M McCullough; A Ward (capt), T McWhirter, N Best. Replacements: B Young, M Sexton, R Frost, R Wilson, R Spee, R Constable, J Topping.
LEINSTER (probable): J Norton; J McWeeney, G Brown, D Quinlan, B Burke; M Leek, B O'Riordan/B O'Meara; P Coyle, G Hickie, E Byrne; L Cullen/A Kearney, B Gissing; N Breslin, D Dillon, S Jennings/N Ronan. Replacements: D Blaney, N Treston, C Potts/A Kearney, N Ronan/J O'Donovan, B O'Riordan/B O'Meara, J Downey, D O'Shea.
