McPhillips has played most of his career on the wing but switched to scrum-half at the end of last season having played there during most of his formative years.
Three players will make their competitive debuts for Connacht - Robbie Morris, Ofisa Treviranus and Tim Donnelly - while Johnny O'Connor and Mel Deane are beginning their second term with Connacht.
Connacht team:
P Durcan; O Treviranus, M Deane, A Wynne, D Yapp; T Donnelly, C McPhillips; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris; M Swift, A Farley (C); R Ofisa, J O'Connor, J Muldoon.
Replacements:
J Fogarty, R Loughney, D Gannon, M McCarthy, C Rigney, C O'Loughlin, D Riordan.
