Connacht v Munster: Guinness PRO12 preview

Full-back Simon Zebo makes his 100th appearance for Munster

Simon Zebo makes his 100th appearance for Munster as they travel to the Sportsground to take on rivals Connacht, live on Sky Sports.

Zebo joins Keith Earls and Darren Sweetnam in the back three, with Sweetnam one of three changes to the side that lost 16-13 to Leinster earlier in the month.

Dave O'Callaghan makes way for CJ Stander, who moves from No 8 to accommodate the incoming Jack O'Donoghue, while Mike Sherry making a return at hooker.

Second-placed Connacht have won two of their last three fixtures against Munster, but have never achieved a season double over their neighbours.

Connacht were beaten 33-32 by Grenoble in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals last week, and they too have made three changes to their side, with one enforced.

With Danie Poolman injured, Matt Healy returns to the left wing while Robbie Henshaw is named at full-back. Academy centre Peter Robb partners Bundee Aki in midfield and the half-back pairing of Shane O'Leary and scrum-half Kieran Marmion is retained.

With the weather promising to hold up, it's set up to be a cracker of a game - the sort of rugby you want to be playing in front of a big crowd at this time of the season.

Connacht coach Pat Lam

Aly Muldowney packs down next to Ireland international Ultan Dillane in the second row, while Eoin McKeon has recovered from illness to start in the back row with Sean O'Brien and No 8 John Muldoon.

Jack Carty is in line to make his first appearance since having his spleen removed ten weeks ago as he is named on the bench.

"It's another big challenge tomorrow but we're very excited by it," said Connacht coach Pat Lam.

"We have a lot of respect for Munster and what they have achieved. I have no doubt that as a province with huge history and pride they will come here with intensity and focus.

Connacht's Robbie Henshaw shifts to full-back for the visit of Munster

"We will need to continue to channel our work ethic and physicality into our team structures to get the valuable points on offer.  

"With the weather promising to hold up, it's set up to be a cracker of a game - the sort of rugby you want to be playing in front of a big crowd at this time of the season."

Connacht: 15 Robbie Henshaw, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Peter Robb, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Shane O'Leary, 9 Kieran Marmion; 1 Denis Buckley, 2 Tom McCartney, 3 Finlay Bealham, 4 Ultan Dillane, 5 Aly Muldowney, 6 Sean O'Brien, 7 Eoin McKeon, 8 John Muldoon (c).

Replacements: 16 Jason Harris-Wright, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 JP Cooney, 19 Andrew Browne, 20 James Connolly, 21 John Cooney, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Fionn Carr.

Munster: 15 Simon Zebo, 14 Darren Sweetnam, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Rory Scannell, 11 Keith Earls, 10 Johnny Holland, 9 Conor Murray; 1 James Cronin, 2 Mike Sherry, 3 Stephen Archer, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Billy Holland, 6 CJ Stander (c), 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 8 Jack O'Donoghue.

Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 John Ryan, 19 Robin Copeland, 20 Jordan Coghlan, 21 Tomás O'Leary, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 Andrew Conway.

Watch Connacht take on Munster live on Sky Sports 5 from 7pm this Saturday. Catch all the action for £6.99 with a NOW TV day pass.