Flanker Jarrad Butler is set to captain Connacht for the first time in his side’s PRO14 clash with the Ospreys in the Liberty Stadium tomorrow night.
A single point separates the two sides in Conference A of the competition and the winners of this clash will put themselves in pole position to reach a Champions Cup play off.
Butler is joined in the back row by blindside Sean O’Brien and Eoin McKeon at number 8, with John Muldoon named among the replacements.
There are a number of changes in the Connacht pack with Conor Carey coming in at tighthead and Shane Delahunt set to start at hooker. In the second-row lock Ultan Dillane returns to the starting team alongside James Cannon.
In the midfield Peter Robb who has recently returned from injury forms a partnership with Eoin Griffin.
The back three remains unchanged with Niyi Adeolokun and Matt Healy on the wings and Tiernan O’Halloran at full back.
(15-9) Tiernan O’Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun, Eoin Griffin, Peter Robb, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion, (1-8) Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Conor Carey, Ultan Dillane, James Cannon, Sean O’Brien, Jarrad Butler (Capt), Eoin McKeon.
Replacements (16-23): Dave Heffernan, Peter McCabe, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Gavin Thornbury, John Muldoon, Caolin Blade, Craig Ronaldson, Darragh Leader.
