CONNACHT COACH ERIC ELWOOD has named a full-strength team for the Pro12 clash against Munster on Saturday evening.

Elwood has made just two changes from the team that succumbed to Biarritz and a hefty deluge in France last Friday.

Nathan White comes into the team in place of prop Ronan Loughney. The Kiwi will captain the westerners at the Sportsground.

George Naoupu will take his place in the second row alongside Mike McCarthy.

The Connacht backline remains unchanged for the third match in succession with Dan Parks and Kieran Marmion continuing in the half-back combination.

Danie Poolman has made a full recovery from the hefty blow that saw him stretchered off in Biarritz at the weekend. He partners Dave McSharry in the centre.

Connacht, who have won two of their last three inter-provincial encounters, are pursuing a clean sweep of 2012 home victories against the three other provinces.

They defeated Ulster 26-21 in April and destroyed Leinster 34-6 in late September.

Eoghan Grace, who has captained the Connacht Eagles this season, scoring a try in last weekend’s British & Irish Cup victory over Cross Keys, is also named on the bench.

Connacht: R Henshaw; T O’Halloran, D Poolman, D McSharry, F Vainikolo; D Parks, K Marmion; B Wilkinson, J Harris-Wright, N White (c); G Naoupu, M McCarthy; A Browne, J O’Connor, E McKeon.

Replacements: E Reynecke, D Buckley, R Loughney, M Swift, E Grace, P O’Donohoe, M Jarvis, E Griffin

*The Pro12 encounter kicks off at 5:15pm and TheScore.ie will be liveblogging from 5pm.

Pro12: Coughlan leads Munster and Stringer at 9 for Connacht clash

O’Driscoll hopes to be fit for 6 Nations opener