Luke Fitzgerald is in line to play his first game since the end of March after he was named in the Leinster replacements for Sunday’s opening European Champions Cup clash against Wasps at the RDS.
The 27-year-old utility back underwent surgery on groin and abdominal problems at the end of last season and has not played since playing 80 minutes in Leinster’s 22-18 Pro12 victory over Munster at the Aviva Stadium on March 29th.
Rob Kearney will miss the game due to the back injury that has been troubling him this season, with Ian Madigan switching from outhalf and Jimmy Gopperth coming in at No 10.
There is one other change in the backs, with Eoin Reddan coming in at scrumhalf for Isaac Boss, who drops to the bench.
There are five changes to the pack, with Seán Cronin coming in for Richardt Strauss at hooker and Michael Bent starting at tighthead after replacing the injured Marty Moore last weekend. Ireland international Mike Ross picked up a minor groin injury during the week and Leinster management have decided not to risk the Cork man against Wasps.
Devin Toner is named in the secondrow, with Kane Douglas moving to the bench, while Dominic Ryan returns at openside and Jamie Heaslip is back to captain the side from No 8.
Munster are the first of the Irish provinces in action and coach Anthony Foley has mad seven changes from the side that beat the Scarlets last weekend for the trip to play Sale Sharks on Saturday (1pm).
Felix Jones returns to fullback in place of Johne Murphy, while Andrew Conway replaces Gerhard van den Heever on the right wing, with the South African moving to the bench.
Denis Hurley takes over from Ivan Dineen as a midfield partner for Andrew Smith with the final change in the backline seeing Ian Keatley start at outhalf alongside Conor Murray.
There are two changes to the frontrow, with Stephen Archer named at tighthead over BJ Botha, while Duncan Casey take over from Kevin O’Byrne at hooker. The final chance sees the return of Paul O’Connell in the secondrow, with Billy Holland moving to the bench.
New Ulster coach Neil Doak makes three chances for the trip to Welford Road to play Leicester.
Andrew Trimble has been ruled out with a toe injury, with fellow international Craig Gilroy coming in on the left and Tommy Bowe shifting to the right.
Paddy Jackson takes over from Ian Humphreys at outhalf, with the final change is an enforced one with Lewis Stevenson coming in for the suspended Alan O’Connor in the secondrow.
Connacht get their Challenge Cup campaign underway at the Sportsground on Saturday when they take on French side La Rochelle (5pm).
Hooker Jason Harris-Wright returns from injury to make his first start of the season and is among five changes.
Harris-Wright completes a new frontrow alongside props Ronan Loughney and Nathan White, while Aly Muldowney is named at lock.
Willie Faloon will line out at openside flanker which allows Eoin McKeon to revert to No 8 and complete the backrow with captain John Muldoon.
The backline sees just one change as Danie Poolman comes on to the right wing, with Niyi Adeolokun dropping to the bench.
SALE ( v Munster, Saturday, 1pm): Michael Haley; Tom Brady, Johnny Leota, Sam Tuitupou, Tom Arscott; Danny Cipriani, Chris Cusiter; Eifion Lewis-Roberts, Marc Jones, Vadim Cobilas; Jon Mills, Michael Paterson; Magnus Lund, David Seymour (capt), Mark Easter
Replacements: Shalva Mamukashvili, Ross Harrison, Alberto de Marchi, Andrei Ostrikov, Josh Beaumont, Will Cliff, Joe Ford, Mark Jennings
MUNSTER: Felix Jones; Andrew Conway, Andrew Smith, Denis Hurley, Simon Zebo; Ian Keatley, Conor Murray; Dave Kilcoyne, Duncan Casey, Stephen Archer; Dave Foley, Paul O'Connell; Peter O'Mahony (capt), Tommy O'Donnell, CJ Stander.
Replacements: Eusebio Guinazu, James Cronin, BJ Botha, Billy Holland, Robin Copeland, Duncan Williams, JJ Hanrahan, Gerhard van den Heever.
LEICESTER (v Ulster , Saturday, 7.45pm): Matthew Tait; Blaine Scully, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Williams, Vereniki Goneva; Freddie Burns, Ben Youngs (capt); Marcos Ayerza, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Fraser Balmain; Brad Thorn, Graham Kitchener; Jamie Gibson, Julian Salvi, Jordan Crane.
Replacements: Harry Thacker, Michele Rizzo, Tiziano Pasquali, Sebastian De Chaves, Robert Barbieri, David Mele, Sam Harrison, Miles Benjamin.
ULSTER: Louis Ludik; Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall; Andrew Warwick, Rory Best (capt), Wiehahn Herbst; Lewis Stevenson, Franco van der Merwe; Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Nick Williams.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Callum Black, Declan Fitzpatrick, Clive Ross, Roger Wilson, Michael Heaney, Stuart Olding, Darren Cave.
LEINSTER (v Wasps, Sunday, 5.15pm): Ian Madigan; Zane Kirchner, Gordon D'Arcy, Noel Reid, Darragh Fanning; Jimmy Gopperth, Eoin Reddan; Jack McGrath, Seán Cronin, Michael Bent; Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy; Rhys Ruddock, Dominic Ryan, Jamie Heaslip (capt).
Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Ed Byrne, Tadhg Furlong, Kane Douglas, Jack Conan, Isaac Boss, Mick McGrath, Luke Fitzgerald.
WASPS: Andrea Masi; Christian Wade, Elliott Daly, Alapati Leiua, Sailosi Tagicakibau; Andy Goode, Joe Simpson; Matt Mullan, Carlo Festuccia, Lorenzo Cittadini; Joe Launchbury, Bradley Davies; Ashley Johnson, James Haskell (capt), Nathan Hughes
Replacements: Tom Lindsay, Simon McIntyre, Jake Cooper-Woolley, James Gaskell, Sam Jones, Charlie Davies, Rob Miller, Chris Bell
CONNACHT (v La Rochelle, Saturday, 5pm): Darragh Leader; Danie Poolman, Robbie Henshaw, Craig Ronaldson, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Ronan Loughney, Jason Harris-Wright, Nathan White; Quinn Roux, Aly Muldowney; John Muldoon (capt), Willie Faloon, Eoin McKeon.
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Denis Buckley, Rodney Ah You, Andrew Browne, George Naoupu, Ian Porter, Dave McSharry, Niyi Adeolokun.
LA ROCHELLE: Arthur Cestaro; Lancelot Luteau, Kini Murimurivalu, Albert VuliVuli, Damien Cler; Hamish Gard, Jules Lebail; Mike Corbel, Benjamin Geledan, Vincent Pelo; Romana Graham, Jacobus Grobler; Nicolas Djebaili (capt), Benoit Guyot, Loann Goujon.
Replacements: Rassie Jansen van Vuuren, Jordan Seneca, Benoit Bourrust, Zeno Kieft, Leo Cedaro, Julien Berger, Charles Lagarde, Charles Bouldoire.
