Munster coach Anthonuy Foley has named six changes to the Munster side which beat defending Pro 12 champions Glasgow on their last outing for Saturday’s visit of Cardiff Blues.
CJ Stander will captain the team from number eight, while Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry and BJ Botha all come into a new look frontrow.
Ian Keatley, whose late penalty gave Munster the win over Glasgow in a repeat of last year’s final, resumes at outhalf with Duncam Williams alongside him at scrumhalf.
Elsewhere Tomás O’Leary and Denis Hurley have been included in a match day squad for the first time this season having completed rehabilitation from injuries.
Meanwhile it has been confirmed Stephen Archer requires surgery after injuring his neck in the Glasgow game and is facing an extended spell on the sidelines.
Munster: Andrew Conway; Shane Monahan, Francis Saili, Rory Scannell, Gerhard van den Heever; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, BJ Botha; Mark Chisholm, Dave Foley; Dave O'Callaghan, Jack O'Donoghue, CJ Stander (c).
Replacements: Niall Scannell, James Cronin, John Ryan, Robin Copeland, Jordan Coghlan, Tomás O'Leary, Denis Hurley, Dave Johnston.
Cardiff Blues: Dan Fish, Garyn Smith, Tom Isaacs, Gavin Evans, Richard Smith, Rhys Patchell, Tavis Knoyle; Sam Hobbs, Matthew Rees (c), Craig Mitchell, Lou Reed, James Down, Josh Turnbull, Ellis Jenkins, Manoa Vosawai
Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Thomas Davies, Dillon Lewis, Macauley Cook, Jevon Groves, Lewis Jones, Gareth Davies, Harry Davies
