Connacht coach Michael Bradley will let some of his young talent loose on Portugal in tomorrow's clash at the Showgrounds (6.0pm). John O'Brien makes his debut at fullback, while secondrow David Nolan will also play for the province for the first time against a side who gave Canada a good game in Lisbon last weekend.
Daniel Riordan returns to the side on the left wing and there is a new halfback combination with Andy Dunne partnering Kieran Campbell.
In the forwards both Michael McCarthy and Ray Ofisa return to the side in the backrow, while David Gannon partners Nolan at lock. Up front John Lyne starts at loosehead and Adrian Flavin captains the side at hooker.
Connacht have named eight replacements for the match, with Tim Donnelly and Conor O'Loughlin both named on the bench for the first time this season, having overcome their shoulder and hip injuries respectively.
CONNACHT:J O'Brien; F Carr, J Hearty, A Wynne, D Riordan; A Dunne, K Campbell; J Lyne, A Flavin (capt), R Morris, D Nolan, D Gannon, M McCarthy, R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements:J Merrigan, B Wilkinson, R Loughney, C Muldoon, C O'Loughlin, T Donnelly, M Deane, T Nathan.
