CJ Stander will skipper Munster in the absence of Peter O'Mahony against Top 14 leaders Toulouse in the last 16 of the Champions Cup tomorrow (3pm).
O'Mahony sustained a deep cut on his thigh in last Saturday's PRO14 final loss to Leinster and his place is taken at openside by Jack O'Donoghue for the Thomond Park clash.
Johann van Graan has named three changes to his side for the game, with all of the changes coming in the pack.
The other two are both in the front row, with Dave Kilcoyne replacing James Cronin at loosehead and Stephen Archer coming in for John Ryan at tighthead.
Both Cronin and Ryan are named on the bench, which includes Fineen Wycherley, who has recovered from a neck injury.
Connacht and Ulster are in Challenge Cup action over the weekend too, with an experienced Connacht side travelling to Welford Road tomorrow to face Leicester Tigers (8pm).
It has been a week of change for Andy Friend, with the departure of the core of his current coaching back-up announced and confirmation of their replacements.
Paul Boyle skippers the westerners due to Jarrad Butler's suspension and he is joined in the back row by Eoghan Masterson and Conor Oliver.
“We had difficult decisions to make across the park with our starting XV," said Friend.
"It’s a testament to our squad that we’ve got a really strong bench while others will miss out entirely, and that’s what you want going into knock-out European rugby.
“It’s no secret that the Connacht record in Europe needs to improve, but this is a group of players that know how to break hoodoos on the road.
"Leicester Tigers in Welford Road is one of the great challenges in European rugby and I have full confidence in the squad to get the win and really put us in the mix for silverware at the end of the season."
Ulster are in action at 8pm on Sunday night at the Twickenham Stoop against Harlequins and they are boosted by Billy Burns' return to fitness in time for the knock-out clash, after injury cost him a bench place for Ireland against England.
However club captain Iain Henderson has not made it back from a shoulder injury in time and his absence is a blown to Dan McFarland, as the second row was in great form during the Six Nations.
Jacob Stockdale comes back into the Ulster line-up after he recovered from a knee injury to play for Ireland in that last Six Nations game of the campaign and he is selected on the left wing, with Michael Lowry switching to full-back to accommodate Burns.
Stuart McCloskey also comes back into midfield with James Hume while Rob Herring, who started in four Six Nations games, is back in the front row. Jordi Murphy skippers the side.
Impressive youngster Cormac Izuchukwu could make his European debut off the bench.
Munster: M Haley, A Conway, C Farrell, D de Allende, K Earls, J Carbery, C Murray; D Kilcoyne, N Scannell, S Archer, J Kleyn, T Beirne, G Coombes, J O'Donoghue, CJ Stander.
Replacements : K O'Byrne, J Cronin, J Ryan, B Holland, F Wycherley, C Casey, JJ Hanrahan, C Cloete.
Connacht: J Porch, A Wootton, S O'Brien, T Daly, M Healy, J Carty, K Marmion; D Buckley, D Heffernan, F Bealham, U Dillane, G Thornbury, E Masterson, C Oliver, P Boyle.
Replacements : S Delahunt, J Duggan, D Robertson-McCoy, O Dowling, A Papali'i, C Blade, C Fitzgerald, P Sullivan.
Ulster: M Lowry, R Baloucoune, J Hume, S McCloskey, J Stockdale, B Burns, J Cooney; E O’Sullivan, R Herring, M Moore, A O’Connor, K Treadwell, S Reidy, J Murphy, N Timoney.
Replacements: J Andrew, A Warwick, T O’Toole, C Izuchukwu, M Rea, A Mathewson, I Madigan, E McIlroy.
