The former Ireland centre John Kelly is to retire from a highly successful professional career after captaining Munster against Connacht at Musgrave Park on Thursday.

The 33-year-old has not played for Ireland since the 2003 World Cup but did accumulate 17 caps since his try-scoring debut against Italy in 2002.

He was mainly used as a winger but his high-water mark came in partnership with Brian O'Driscoll, who switched to 12, in the narrow defeat to the All Blacks in Dunedin that summer.

Coach Declan Kidney has rested or benched his frontliners Ronan O'Gara, John Hayes, Rua Tipoki, Marcus Horan, David Wallace and Mick O'Driscoll.

The former Australia under-21 wing Liam Bibo will make his debut for Connacht as coach Michael Bradley makes three changes. Daniel Riordan comes into the centre and David Gannon is named at lock. A decision will be made on Mel Deane's fitness closer to kick-off. Aidan Wynne is on standby.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; L Bibo, D Riordan, M Deane/A Wynne, O Treviranus; A Dunne, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris; M Swift, D Gannon; M McCarthy, J O'Connor, C Rigney/J Muldoon (capt). Replacements: J Fogarty, R Loughney, A Farley, R Ofisa, C McPhillips, P Durcan, A Wynne/D Yapp.

MUNSTER: D Hurley; J Kelly, K Lewis, L Mafi, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; F Pucciariello, F Sheahan, T Buckley; D O'Callaghan, D Ryan; D Leamy, N Ronan, A Foley. Replacements: J Flannery, M Horan, M O'Driscoll, J Coughlan, J Hurley, R O'Gara, B Murphy.