Eric Elwood has made two changes to the Connacht side that drew with Ulster at the weekend for Thursday night’s clash with Cardiff Blues.
Andrew Browne comes in for Bernie Upton in the second row, while Adrian Flavin comes in at hooker in place of Sean Cronin, who is rested as part of the IRFU’s player management programme.
Johnny O’Connor returns from injury to take his place on the bench, where he will be joined by Connacht Academy graduate Dermot Murphy.
Connacht’s clash with Cardiff Blues takes place in the Cardiff City stadium on Thursday at 7.05pm.
Connacht: Gavin Duffy; Troy Nathan, Niva Ta’auso, Keith Matthews, Fionn Carr; Ian Keatley, Frank Murphy (captain) Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin, Jamie Hagan; Michael Swift, Andrew Browne; Michael McCarthy, Ray Ofisa, Mike McComish
Replacements: Dermot Murphy, Ronan Loughney, Rob Sweeney, Bernie Upton, Johnny O’Connor, Cillian Willis, Miah Nikora, Darragh Fanning
