Pro 12 team news: Leinster coach Joe Schmidt has stuck with the halfback pairing that finished last weekend's heavy defeat away to the Ospreys for Friday night's home RaboDirect PRO 12 opening clash against the Dragons at the RDS (7.35).
Outhalf Ian Madigan will be joined by scrumhalf Cillian Willis after they replaced Mat Berquist and John Cooney in Swansea, while Brendan Macken is named at outside centre in place of the injured Luke Fitzgerald.
Schmidt has also switched his wingers around, with Finn Carr starting on the right and David Kearney on the left.
The pack is unchanged with Ireland international Rhys Ruddock again leading the side and he continues his backrow partnership with Kevin McLaughlin and Dominic Ryan. Devin Toner locks down with Damian Browne with Heinke van der Merwe continuing in the frontrow alongside Richardt Strauss and Jamie Hagan.
A decision on the final place on the replacements bench will be made closer to kick-off with either Jack O’Connell or Nathan White filling the last berth.
Tighthead White only arrived in the country in the last few days after captaining Waikato in their ITM Final defeat to Canterbury last weekend.
Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has made only one change to the starting XV to face Aironi on Saturday at the Stadio Zaffanella (3pm).
Tim Barker has replaced Lewis Stevenson in the second-row, where he will partner Dan Tuohy. Stevenson drops to the bench as a result so there is no place for Neil McComb who has dropped out of the match-day 23.
The pack is otherwise unchanged pack, with Paddy McAllister and Jerry Cronin joining Andi Kyriacou in the frontrow.
Chris Henry will again captain the side from number eight alongside Willie Faloon and Pedrie Wannenburg in the backrow.
McLaughlin will field the same backline that played against Glasgow last week, with Ian Whitten, who impressed out of position on the wing, retaining his place.
He is joined in the back three by Craig Gilroy and Adam D’Arcy, with Darren Cave and Nevin Spence in the centres, and Paul Marshall and Ian Humphreys occupying the halfback slots.
Declan Fitzpatrick has returned to action after suffering concussion during pre-season and has been named on the bench. Luke Marshall has also earned a place among the replacements at the expense of young Peter Henderson.
New signing Jared Payne arrived from New Zealand on Monday and will travel to Italy but has not been rushed into playing action.
Ulster played Aironi on four occasions last season and came away with four wins, scoring 14 tries in the process and conceding just one. The Italians are still looking to add to their solo victory in this tournament, which was a home success over Connacht in March.
Leinster (v Dragons):I Nacewa; F Carr, B Macken, E O'Malley, D Kearney; I Madigan, C Willis; H van der Merwe, R Strauss, J Hagan, D Browne, D Toner, K McLaughlin, D Ryan, R Ruddock (capt).
Replacements:A Dundon, J McGrath, J O'Connell/N White, M Flanagan, L Auva'a, J Cooney, M Berquist, D Hudson.
Ulster (v Aironi):A D'Arcy; C Gilroy, D Cave, N Spence, I Whitten; I Humphreys, P Marshall; P McAllister, A Kyriacou, J Cronin, T Barker, D Tuohy, P Wannenburg, W Faloon, C Henry.
Replacements:N Brady, D Fitzpatrick, A Macklin, L Stevenson, R Diack, I Porter, P Jackson, L Marshall.
