Kelly set for Munster swansong

John Kelly will make his final appearance for Munster against Connacht in the Magners League on St Stephens's Day.

The former Ireland wing announced earlier this week that he would retire from professional rugby at the end of the month and Declan Kidney has opted to give him a send-off at Musgrave Park.

Kidney has also decided to start Paul Warwick alongside Peter Stringer instead of Ronan O'Gara.

Yesterday, Connacht coach Michael Bradley confirmed that former Australian under-21 wing Liam Bibo will make his debut against Munster.

Bibo's inclusion is one of three changes. Derek Riordan comes back into the starting line-up at outside centre, while David Gannon returns to the secondrow.

Question marks remain over the fitness of Mel Deane and John Muldoon.  Inside centre Deane will be replaced by Aidan Wynne if he fails to recover from an injured shoulder he sustained in the last match against Newcastle.

Backrower and captain Muldoon strained his back in training and will make way for Colm Rigney if he fails to recover.

Connacht:  G Duffy; L Bibo, D Riordan, M Deane/A Wynne, O Treviranus; A Dunne, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris; M Swift, D Gannon; M McCarthy, J O'Connor, C Rigney/J Muldoon (C).

Replacements: J Fogarty, R Loughney, A Farley, R Ofisa, C McPhillips, P Durcan, A Wynne/D Yapp.

Munster: Federico Pucciariello, Frank Sheahan, Tony Buckley; Donncha O'Callaghan, Donnacha Ryan; Denis Leamy, Niall Ronan, Anthony Foley, Peter Stringer, Paul Warwick; Ian Dowling, Lifeimi Mafi, Kieran Lewis, John Kelly; Denis Hurley

Replacements: Jerry Flannery, Marcus Horan, Mick O'Driscoll, James Coughlan, Gerry Hurley, Ronan O'Gara, Barry Murphy.