Wales World Cup star Hallam Amos returns from injury for Cardiff Blues against Connacht tomorrow (7.35pm), while Six Nations squad member Seb Davies is named on the bench.
The 22-times capped Amos has been sidelined since damaging his ankle in training just over a month ago.
Now he’s fit again to line up on the wing for the Blues in the crucial PRO14 clash at the Galway Sportsground.
The Arms Park outfit have had one player released to them by Wales - second row Davies - and he figures among the replacements.
Hooker Kristian Dacey makes a long-awaited return from injury, while Josh Turnbull packs down on the blindside flank for his 100th league appearance in Blues colours, on top of his 86 for the Scarlets, with another stalwart, Dan Fish, at full-back.
Winger Ryan Edwards, who has been brought in on loan from Bristol under the end of the season due to a back three crisis, is among the subs.
Head coach, Mulvihill, said: “We’ve had a 10-day preparation into Connacht away and this will be a very important game for us.
“They’re a quality outfit and are only missing one international player so we’ll need to be at our best to win, but I’m sure we can do it.”
Heavy rain and strong winds are forecast for during the game, but at present it is still set to go ahead.
“We’ve been keeping an eye on the weather, and it looks pretty horrendous,” said Mulvihill.
“We trained on Monday and Tuesday in poor weather over here, with the hailstones coming down on Tuesday.
“We’ve given ourselves good preparation into the game this week.”
Ireland internationals Ultan Dillane and Dave Heffernan return to the Connacht starting XV, but centre Bundee Aki is retained by the national set-up.
Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran; John Porch, Kyle Godwin, Peter Robb, Matt Healy; Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion; Paddy McAllister, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Gavin Thornbury, Paul Boyle, Colby Fainga’a, Jarrad Butler (capt).
Replacements: Shane Delahunt, Denis Buckley, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Joe Maksymiw, Eoin McKeon, Caolin Blade, Conor Fitzgerald, Tom Daly.
Cardiff Blues: Dan Fish; Jason Harries, Rey Lee-Lo, Garyn Smith, Hallam Amos; Jason Tovey, Lloyd Williams (capt.); Rhys Gill, Liam Belcher, Dmitri Arhip, Filo Paulo, James Ratti, Josh Turnbull, Olly Robinson, Will Boyde
Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Corey Domachowski, Scott Andrews, Seb Davies, Nick Williams, Lewis Jones, Ben Thomas, Ryan Edwards
