Tony Buckley has been drafted straight back into the Munster starting line-up following his brief stint covering for Simon Best at the World Cup.
The tighthead prop was replaced by Darragh Hurley last weekend after he jetted out to France but comes back into Declan Kidney's side for tomorrow night's clash with Celtic League leaders Cardiff.
Frankie Sheahan, also involved in Ireland's ill-fated World Cup campaign but used sparingly by Eddie O'Sullivan, and Alan Quinlan, who saw no action whatsoever, have both been named on the replacement's bench for the match at Musgrave Park.
Elsewhere, Leinster's Gary Brown will make his 50th appearance for the province when Michael Cheika's side take on Llanelli at the RDS.
Cheika has afforded all his Irish internationals a break but still makes a number of changes. Cillian Willis comes in for his first start of the season at scrum-half in place of the injured Chris Whitaker while in the pack Juan Francisco Gomez and Keith Gleeson are also involved from the off.
A decision on skipper Leo Cullen's fitness will be made closer to kick off.
Connacht coach Michael Bradley makes two changes for his team's visit to the Glasgow Warriors tomorrow.
Keith Matthews comes into the side on the left wing in place of the unavailable Darren Yapp. Ronan Loughney starts at tight-head prop in place of Robbie Morris.
Ulster boss Mark McCall makes five changes from the side that lost at Murrayfield last week ahead of Saturday's game with the Dragons at Rodney Parade.
Darren Cave starts at outside centre while Mark Bartholomeusz gets the nod over Bryn Cunningham at fullback.
Paul Marshall gets his first start for his province at scrum half with Kieran Campbell dropping to the bench.
In the pack Declan Fitzpatrick starts at tight head prop ahead of Tom Court. Justin Harrison partners Tim Barker in the second row.
Ulster:M Bartholomeusz; M McCrea; D Cave; T Bowe; S Danielli; N O'Connor; P Marshall; J Fitzpatrick; N Brady; D Fitzpatrick; J Harrison; T Barker; M McCullough; D Pollock; R Wilson (capt). Replacements: M Miles; T Court; C Del Fava; N McMillan; K Campbell; K Hallett; B Cunningham.
Connacht:P Durcan; O Treviranus, M Deane, A Wynne, K Matthews; T Donnelly, C McPhillips; B Wilkinson, A Flavin (C), R Loughney; M Swift, D Gannon; M McCarthy, J O¹Connor, C Rigney. Replacements:J Fogarty, R Morris, J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C O¹Loughlin, D Riordan, A Tuilevuka.
Munster: S Payne; I Dowling, K Lewis, R Tipoki, A Horgan; P Warwick, T O'Leary; F Pucciariello, D Fogarty, T Buckley; M Melbourne, M O'Driscoll; J Coughlan, N Ronan, A Foley capt. Replacements: F Sheahan, D Hurely, A Quinlan, B Holland, G Hurley, J Manning, L Mafi.
Leinster: R Kearney; G Brown, F McFadden, C Warner, L Fitzgerald; J Sexton, C Willis; J Francisco Gomez, B Jackman, S Knoop; T Hogan, L Cullen / D Toner; S Jennings, K Gleeson, J Heaslip. Replacements: B Blaney, S Wright, D Toner / C Healy, C Jowitt, S Keogh, C Keane, R McCarron
