TIERNAN O’HALLORAN has returned to the Connacht starting line-up for Saturday’s Pro12 fixture with Leinster.

The reigning champions, currently eighth in the table after five matches, travel to Dublin to face Leo Cullen’s men at the RDS (5.15pm).

Having missed last week’s Champions Cup win over Zebre, O’Halloran starts at full-back, while Dave Heffernan and Conor Carey come into the front row.

Bundee Aki is named on the bench, but Ultan Dillane, who also signed a new deal with the province this week, is unavailable as he is subject to the player welfare management programme with Ireland.

There will be a Connacht debut for lock James Cannon if he is introduced as a replacement tomorrow.

“Despite the high number of injuries that we have, we are excited by the challenge and opportunity to be the first Connacht team to win at the RDS,” said Connacht head coach Pat Lam.

Leinster have started the season extremely well and are sitting top of the table so we understand the difficulty of that challenge.

“Although it has been a short week with the travel back from Italy on Monday, we have mentally prepared very well as we know that a focus on our team roles will give us the best shot at the points on offer.”

Connacht

15. Tiernan O’Halloran
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Peter Robb
12. Craig Ronaldson
11. Cian Kelleher
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion

1. JP Cooney
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Conor Carey
4. Quinn Roux
5. Andrew Browne
6. Sean O’Brien
7. Jake Heenan
8. John Muldoon (captain)

Replacements

16. Shane Delahunt
17. Dominic Robertson-McCoy
18. Finlay Bealham
19. James Cannon
20. Eoin McKeon
21. Caolin Blade
22. Bundee Aki
23. Stacey Ili

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