Five changes for Connacht

Centre Mark McHugh will make his seasonal bow in a Connacht side that shows five changes for an away date at Cardiff Blues in the Celtic League on Friday evening.

Number eight John O'Sullivan will return from a slight injury and prop Dan McFarland, second row Pieter Myburgh and blindside Paul Neville will all start for the first time this season.

McHugh's selection pushed Niall O'Brien out onto the wing in place of Ted Robinson and Michael Swift, last year's stand-out player, will be in the replacements for the first time.

Connacht (v Cardiff): D Slemen; N O'Brien, M Mostyn, M McHugh, C McPhillips; P Warwick, T Tierney; D McFarland, B Jackman, P Bracken, P Myburgh, A Farley, P Neville, M Lacey, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: J Fogarty, A Clarke, M Carroll, M Swift, E Elwood, C O'Loughlin, T Robinson.