Rugby:Ireland hooker Seán Cronin will be rested for Connacht's clash with Cardiff Blues on Thursday evening, with Adrian Flavin set to take his place in the frontrow.
Eric Elwood has omitted the player as part of the IRFU’s Player Welfare Programme, in a move that may offer a chance to Academy graduate Dermot Murphy to impress off the bench.
In the secondrow Andrew Browne has been called upon to replace Bernie Upton, while Johnny O’Connor is in line for a return to action after injury, having replaced Shane Conneely on the bench.
The game at Cardiff City Stadium (7.05pm) comes just five days after Connacht’s gruelling 15-15 draw with Ulster that left them fifth in the Magners League with two wins from four games.
The Blues, who are two points ahead of their visitors in third place, welcome back centre Casey Laulala after he recovered from injury to take his place alongside Dafydd Hewitt.
Scrumhalf Gareth Cooper will make his first start of the season., while number eight Xavier Rush captains the side.
Cardiff Blues (v Connacht):Ben Blair; Leigh Halfpenny, Casey Laulala, Dafydd Hewitt, Chris Czekaj; Dan Parks, Gareth Cooper; John Yapp, Rhys Williams, Tafa'ao Filise; Bradley Davies, Deiniol Jones; Michael Paterson, Sam Warburton, Xavier Rush (capt)
Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Gethin Jenkins, Scott Andrews, Paul Tito, Andries Pretorius, Kristian Baller, Ceri Sweeney, Tom Shanklin
Connacht (v Cardiff Blues):Gavin Duffy; Troy Nathan, Niva Ta'auso, Keith Matthews, Fionn Carr; Ian Keatley, Frank Murphy (capt); Brett Wilkinson, Adrian Flavin, Jamie Hagan; Michael Swift, Andrew Browne; Michael McCarthy, Ray Ofisa, Mike McComish
Replacements:Dermot Murphy, Ronan Loughney, Rob Sweeney, Bernie Upton, Johnny O'Connor, Cillian Willis, Miah Nikora, Darragh Fanning,