Rugby:Ronan Loughney's inclusion is the sole change by Connacht ahead of their final Heineken Cup pool game against Harlequins at the Sportsground tomorrow (8pm).
Fresh from his call-up to the Ireland Wolfhounds squad for the meeting with England Saxons, the versatile prop comes in at the expense of Dylan Rogers, who started the defeat to Toulouse last week.
The 27-year-old has made 95 appearances thus far in his Connacht career, and was joined in the reserve Ireland squad yesterday by provincial team-mates Brett Wilkinson, John Muldoon, captain Gavin Duffy and Mike McCarthy, all of whom will start against ‘Quins.
Tiernan O’Halloran, one of the six uncapped ‘additional players’ included in the senior squad will also line out on the left wing, as Connacht look to halt a run of 14-straight defeats.
Harlequins need a result, however, and for things to go their way in the other Pool Six game between group opponents Gloucester and Toulouse at Kingsholm, where they will hope the homeside beat the French giants.
They are two points adrift of the four-time champions, courtesy of a try bonus and losing bonus for the French, after four wins apiece.
Connacht Rugby:G Duffy [capt]; F Vainikolo, K Tonetti, D McSharry, T O'Halloran; N O'Connor, P O'Donohoe; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Loughney, M Swift, M McCarthy, J Muldoon, R Ofisa, G Naoupu. Replacements: E Reynecke, D Buckley, D Rogers, M Kearney, E McKeon, D Moore, M Nikora, H Fa'afili
Harlequins:M Brown; U Monye, M Hopper, J Turner-Hall, S Smith; N Evans, D Care; J Marler, C Brooker, J Johnston, T Vallejos, G Robson, M Faasavalu, C Robshaw [capt], N Easter. Replacements: J Gray, M Lambert, T Fairbrother, O Kohn, L Wallace, R Bolt, R Clegg, T Casson
Referee:Nigel Owens (Wales)
Gloucester Rugby:J May; C Sharples, M Tindall, E Fuimaono-Sapolu, J Simpson-Daniel; F Burns, R Lawson; N Wood, S Lawson, R Harden, J Hamilton, A Brown, A Strokosch, A Qera, L Narraway. Replacements: D Dawiduik, D Murphy, S Knight, W James, M Cox, D Lewis, R Mills, H Trinder
Toulouse:M Medard; T Matanavou, Y Jauzion, C Poitrenaud, Y Donguy; L Beauxis, L Burgess; G Steenkamp, W Servat, C Johnston, Y Maestri, P Albacete, Y Nyanga, T Dusautoir [capt], L Picamoles. Replacements: C Tolofua, D Human, J Poux, G Lamboley, J Doussain, J Bouilhou, V Clerc, S Sowerby
Toulouse replacement Vincent Clerc (22) faces a late fitness test. If he is ruled out Florian Fritz will come into the squad at No 22.
Referee:George Clancy (Ireland)
