Connacht team to face Ospreys

Connacht coach Pat Lam has made nine changes to his starting lineup ahead of the GUINNESS PRO12 game away to Ospreys on Friday night (kick off 19:35). New recruit Bundee Aki will make his first appearance in a Connacht jersey at Liberty Stadium, starting in a midfield partnership with Craig Ronaldson.

Ireland squad trio Kieran Marmion, Rodney Ah You and Darragh Leader have all been temporarily released from the international training camp to play a part in tomorrow's league game with Marmion and Ah You included in the starting XV.

Wing Matt Healy and outhalf Jack Carty are both recalled to the backline while 22-year-old Shane Layden is given the nod at fullback for his second start of the season.

Celebrating his 24th birthday today, lock Quinn Roux returns to the pack while the Galway-born duo of John Muldoon (captain) and Eoin McKeon are named in the back row.

The most notable inclusion on the bench is Mayo-born prop Jamie Dever who is in line to make his senior Connacht debut. The 21-year-old re-joined the Connacht Academy this season following a year-long sabbatical that allowed him to recover from a lengthy foot injury. JP Cooney is also likely to make his first appearance of the season against league leaders Ospreys tomorrow night.

Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game, Head Coach Pat Lam said:

"With Robbie (Henshaw) away in Ireland camp Bundee (Aki) gets his opportunity a bit earlier than expected after just arriving in the country ten days ago. We were initially looking at Bundee for our next game with Zebre but it's great that he's been keen to get going as soon as possible. He's been very open to learning quickly in training and has made a big effort in getting to know his team mates. There'll undoubtedly be a good bit of spotlight on him tomorrow night against Ospreys, but as always it is only a team effort that can lead to a positive outcome for us.

"As foreseen, we've made a good few changes this week and injuries and international call-up considered, we believe we have the strongest squad possible going out there tomorrow night. We're going down to play the top team in the league on their home ground. It is our biggest challenge of the season so far. Ospreys are a well-coached, well-drilled side with strike power all over the field. We know we will have to raise our standards considerably from last week, particularly in defence. But we're all focused on the process of picking up as many league points as we can."

Connacht team to face Ospreys

15. Shane Layden
14. Niyi Adeolokun
13. Bundee Aki
12. Craig Ronaldson
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Jason Harris-Wright
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Mick Kearney
5. Quinn Roux
6. John Muldoon (captain)
7. Eoin McKeon
8. George Naoupu

Replacements:

16. Dave Heffernan
17. Jamie Dever
18. JP Cooney
19. Andrew Browne
20. Willie Faloon
21. Ian Porter
22. Dave McSharry
23. Darragh Leader

Unavailable/Injured: Finlay Bealham, Ronan Loughney, Nathan White, Sean Henry, Tom McCartney, Aly Muldowney, Mata Fifita, Jake Heenan, Miah Nikora, Robbie Henshaw, Tiernan O'Halloran, Mils Muliaina

Ospreys v Connacht
Friday October 31st
Liberty Stadium
Kick off 7:35pm
Live on BBCWales
Listen live to Galway Bay FM sponsored by Life Style Sports