Connacht second row Michael McCarthy has been suspended for three weeks after pleading guilty to headbutting flanker Rocky Elsom during the Magners League win over Leinster last weekend.
Elsom has escaped punishment despite retaliating to the incident.
McCarthy, however, has escaped an additional punishment for the red card he received after the IRFU Disciplinary Committee ruled the first yellow card shown to him to have been "awarded incorrectly".
McCarthy's suspension will end on October 26th, meaning the only tryscorer in the 19-18 win will miss Friday's European Challenge Cup encounter in Dax, the visit of London Irish the following week and the home game against Edinburgh in the Magners League on the 24th.
Coach Michael Bradley named McCarthy in 24-man squad to face Dax at the Stade Maurice Boyau earlier today, but will now have to bring in a replacement.
Bradley also recalled Joe Merrigan, who has been passed fit and features for the first time since Edinburgh hosted Connacht in March. Also included is Daniel Riordan who has recovered from his hamstring injury which has kept him out for several weeks.
Andy Dunne (hamstring), Adrian Flavin (ribs), Keith Matthews (calf), Conor O'Loughlin (hip) and Aidan Wynne (calf) were not considered due to injury.
Kick-off on Friday evening is 7pm local time (6pm Irish time).
Connacht squad: L Bibo, A Browne, K Campbell, F Carr, S Cronin, M Deane, G Duffy, A Farley, J Hearty, I Keatley, R Loughney, M McCarthy*, J Merrigan, R Morris, J Muldoon, F Murphy, T Nathan, J O'Connor, R Ofisa, C Rigney, D Riordan, M Roberts, M Swift, B Wilkinson.
