Bradley to blood two new players for Ospreys trip

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has brought in five players to his side for the trip to The Ospreys on Friday.

Centre John Hearty and hooker Joe Merrigan will be asked to make their first starts.

Brendan O'Connor and Michael Swift will come in to flank John Muldoon who moves around to number eight.

Conor O'Loughlin comes in at scrum-half.

CONNACHT (v The Ospreys): 15. Matt Mostyn, 14. Conor McPhillips, 13. John Hearty, 12. Keith Matthews, 11. Darren Yapp, 10. Paul Warwick, 9. Conor O’Loughlin; 1. Ray Hogan, 2. Joe Merrigan, 3. Stephen Knoop, 4. Christian Short, 5. Andrew Farley (c), 6. Michael Swift, 7. Brendan O’Connor, 8. John Muldoon.

Replacement: 16. John Fogarty, 17. Ronan Loughney, 18. Colm Rigney, 19. Matt Lacey, 20. Chris Keane, 21 James Downey, 22. Ted Robinson.