Muldoon returns to Connacht squad

Connacht coach Eric Elwood has named his side for Friday’s Magners League meeting with Aironi at the Sportsground, kick-off 7.35pm.

This re-scheduled fixture is the first meeting of any sort between the teams and is the sole Magners League fixture this weekend.

Connacht have won five out of their last six games in all competitions with the only loss coming at the hands of last season's Magners League champions the Ospreys.

The Connacht line-up shows one change from the side that beat Bennetton Treviso last Friday.

Adrian Flavin returns to the front row in place of Sean Cronin, who is on international duty, with Dermot Murphy coming in to the bench.

The other change on the bench is the return of club captain John Muldoon after a three month lay-off with a broken arm.

International blindside Muldoon suffered the injury in December’s Amlin Challenge Cup tie with Harlequins, and his return is a welcome boost to a Connacht back-row that has been outstanding of late.

Former London Wasps flanker Johnny O’Connor will lead the side once more.

Connacht: Gavin Duffy; Brian Tuohy, Niva Ta’auso, Troy Nathan, Fionn Carr; Ian Keatley, Frank Murphy; Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin, Jamie Hagan, Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy, Andrew Browne, Johnny O’Connor (C), Ray Ofisa

Replacements: Dermot Murphy, Ronan Loughney, Rodney Ah You, Bernie Upton, John Muldoon, Cillian Willis, Miah Nikora, Keith Matthews