Fit-again Johnny Sexton returns to the Leinster team for tomorrow’s clash with Connacht - but Luke McGrath will captain the side.
Sexton hasn’t played since suffering a dead leg in the last of Ireland’s Autumn Nations Cup games against Scotland in November.
That injury also kept him out of the Champions Cup wins over Montpellier and Northampton but he will start this PRO14 clash at the RDS (7.35pm).
McGrath will skipper a side that sees academy duo Max O'Reilly and Andrew Smith - both 20 - handed debuts at fullback and right wing respectively.
In the pack, Peter Dooley, James Tracy and Michael Bent make up the front row with Bent making his 150th appearance for the province.
Ross Molony and Devin Toner are at second row with Ryan Baird, Scott Penny and Dan Leavy in the back row.
Jack Conan and Ed Byrne have put injuries behind them and are named among the replacements.
LEINSTER: Max O’Reilly; Andrew Smith, Jimmy O’Brien, Rory O’Loughlin, Dave Kearney; Johnny Sexton, Luke McGrath; Peter Dooley, James Tracy, Michael Bent; Ross Molony, Devin Toner; Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, Dan Leavy.
Replacements: Seán Cronin, Ed Byrne, Tom Clarkson, Josh Murphy, Jack Conan, Hugh O’Sullivan, Liam Turner, Will Connors.
CONNACHT: John Porch, Peter Sullivan, Sammy Arnold, Tom Daly, Alex Wootton, Jack Carty, Caolin Blade, Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Dominic Robertson-McCoy, Gavin Thornbury, Quinn Roux, Eoghan Masterson, Conor Oliver, Sean Masterson.
Replacements: Jonny Murphy, Matthew Burke, Conor Kenny, Ultan Dillane, Cian Prendergast, Kieran Marmion, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Ben O'Donnell
