Magners League:Munster coach Tony McGahan has rearranged his back five ahead of the opening game of the season against Magners League debutants Aironi at Musgrave Park on Saturday (7.30pm).
The coach has resisted tinkering with the backline that played in the recent 15-10 friendly win over Gloucester but up front there are four changes, one positional.
Donnacha Ryan will move from the secondrow to blindside flanker to accommodate locks Mick O’Driscoll and Billy Holland.
This means Alan Quinlan must settle for a place on the bench, while Ian Nagle is out of the 22 altogether.
Niall Ronan, meanwhile, retains his place after replacing Tommy O’Donnell in the 45th minute of last week’s game.
Denis Leamy will captain the side from number eight.
The veteran backrower will see a familiar face in his opposite number after former Munster forward Nick Williams was selected to start for Italian newcomers Aironi.
Williams anchors a pack that includes some heavy-hitters, such as Italian internationals Fabio Ongaro, Salvatore Perugini, Carlo Del Fava and Quintin Geldenhuys.
Munster (v Aironi):F Jones; D Howlett, S Tuitupou, J Murphy, I Dowling; P Warwick, P Stringer; W du Preez, D Varley, T Buckley, M O'Driscoll, B Holland; D Ryan, N Ronan, D Leamy (captain).
Replacements: D Fogarty, M Horan, J Hayes, A Quinlan, P O'Mahony, D Williams, S Deasy, D Barnes
Aironi Rugby:J Laharrague; G Rubini, R Quartaroli, D Des F, G Toniolatti; L Mercier, T Tebaldi; A De Marchi, F Ongaro, S Perugini; C Del Fava, Q Geldenhuys; J Erasmus, G Krause, N Williams.
Replacements: A De Marchi, R Santamaria, L Milani, M Bortolami, A Birchall, M Wilson, A Benettin, G Pizarro.