Five changes for Connacht

Eric Elwood has made a number of changes following his side’s narrow defeat to Leinster for the visit to the Stadio Zaffenella to play Aironi tomorrow (4.35pm).

The 23-man squad sees the return of Connacht's towering second row Michael Swift and versatile prop Dylan Rogers to the pack while scrumhalf Frank Murphy joins centre Dave McSharry and winger Fetu'u Vainikolo as the changes in the backline.

Six-foot five, 18-stone lock Swift returns to the starting lineup following a 2 week break with a knee injury. He has recently penned a contract extension that will see him remain at the club until at least the end of the 2012/13 season.

Dylan Rogers replaces the injured Ronan Loughney at tighthead. The 27-year old South African born prop can play at either side of the scrum and earned the call-up after impressing from the bench in last weekend's narrow loss to Leinster.

Murphy earns the starting berth at scrumhalf ahead of Paul O'Donohoe and Dave McSharry returns to centre following a week's lay-off while a nasty chin injury healed.

Twenty-one-year old McSharry, who recently signed a two-year contract, has been ever-present in the squad since earning his 1st cap against Ulster earlier this season.

Fetu'u Vainikolo returns to the right wing replacing the injured Brian Tuohy. Tuohy underwent surgery earlier this week to repair a broken leg sustained in the New Years Day derby against Leinster and looks set to miss most of the remainder of the season.

Connacht (v Aironi): G Duffy; F Vainikolo, K Tonetti, D McSharry, T O’Halloran; M Jarvis, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, D Rogers; M Swift, M McCarthy; M Kearney, J Muldoon, G Naoupu.

Replacements: E Reynecke, D Buckely, S Maguire, E McKeon, R Ofisa, P O’Donohoe, N O’Connor, H Fa’afili.