Christian Cullen makes his long-awaited return for Munster this weekend when the European champions take on Connacht in Thomond Park On Sunday.
The New Zealander has not featured for Munster since injuring his shoulder against Ulster at the end of September.
Kidney has decided not to rush the all Irish internationals back into action too soon, with Paul O'Connell, John Hayes and Peter Stringer on the bench. All three played against the Pacific Islands and have therefore been rested.
The remaining five internationals available to Kidney did not start that game and will feature from the start.
Outhalf Ronan O'Gara will captain the side and the pack will benefit from the return of Frankie Sheahan, Donncha O'Callaghan, David Wallace and Denis Leamy.
Lifeimi Mafi starts at inside centre as Barry Murphy returns to the number 13.
Cullen's return to fitness has allowed Kidney to rest Shaun Payne.
Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made five changes ahead of the game.
John Fogarty, Ray Hogan, Colm Rigney, Mark McHugh and Conor McPhillips, who were all substitutes in the 15-13 defeat to Cardiff a fortnight ago, will start.
Adrian Flavin, Brett Wilkinson, Brendan O'Connor and John Hearty are the ones to make way, while McPhillips will replace top try scorer Matt Mostyn who broke his ankle while scoring against Cardiff. He is expected to be unavailable for 10-12 weeks.
Bradley has not yet decided whether to start Brett Sturgess or Stephen Knoop at tighthead prop. Sturgess began the Cardiff game and it would represent wholesale changes should Knoop start.
The game kicks-off at 5pm.
MUNSTER: C Cullen; J Kelly, B Murphy, L Mafi, A Horgan; R O'Gara, T O'Leary; D Hurley, F Sheahan, F Pucciariello; D O'Callaghan, M O'Driscoll; A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy.
Replacements: A Kyriacou, J Hayes, P O'Connell, T McGann, P Stringer, J Manning, T Halstead.
CONNACHT: 15. Daniel Riordan; 14. Conor McPhillips, 13. Paul Warwick, 12. Keith Matthews, 11. Darren Yapp; 10. Mark McHugh, 9. Chris Keane; 1. Ray Hogan, 2. John Fogarty(C), 3. Brett Sturgess/Stephen Knoop; 4. David Gannon, 5. Andrew Farley; 6. John Muldoon, 7. Ray Ofisa, 8. Colm Rigney.
Replacements: 16. Adrian Flavin, 17. Brett Wilkinson, 18. Ryan Strudwick, 19. Brendan O'Connor, 20. Conor O'Loughlin, 21. Gavin Williams, 22. John Hearty.
