Galway man Eoin McKeon returns from injury to make a start at Number 8 in a back row with captain John Muldoon and Nepia-Fox Matamua.
Ireland international Kieran Marmion will start at scrum half in an otherwise unchanged back line.
From the bench, experienced forwards Aly Muldowney and George Naoupu are both in line to make their season debut while year one Academy prop Conan O'Donnell is named in the match day squad for the first time. The 19-year-old from Sligo has nine Ireland Under-20 caps from last season's World Rugby Championship and Six Nations competitions.
Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game, head coach Pat Lam said:
"Having recently lost players Rodney (Ah You), Ultan (Dillane), and Eoghan (Masterson) to injury, we see some changes to the team from last time out. Again, it's a very young side, especially the back line, so it's always pleasing to be able to call on the experience of guys like Aly (Muldowney) and George (Naoupu) from the bench.
"Young Conan (O'Donnell) has been called up. We are low on tightheads with Nathan (White) away at the World Cup. It's probably a bit earlier than Conan expected to be playing PRO12 rugby but he is a talented player who has a lot of experience with the under-20's. He has prepared well this week in training and I have no doubt he will grab the opportunity with both hands if he's called on tomorrow.
"The boys can't wait to get back out and play again tomorrow and having our home support behind us will certainly help in our fight for points. Cardiff are a good side who have had a similar start to the season as us. We've both had a little more time to prepare for this game than normal schedules would allow so it's certainly set up to be a lively encounter."
Connacht:
15 - 9: Tiernan O'Halloran, Danie Poolman, Rory Parata, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion
1 - 8: Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Quinn Roux, Andrew Browne, John Muldoon (captain), Nepia Fox-Matamua, Eoin McKeon
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, JP Cooney, Conan O'Donnell, Aly Muldowney, George Naoupu, John Cooney, Craig Ronaldson, Fionn Carr
Unavailable / Injured: Jason Harris-Wright, Nathan White, Rodney Ah You, Ronan Loughney, Ben Marshall, Ultan Dillane, Jake Heenan, Eoghan Masterson, Api Pewhairangi, Robbie Henshaw, Dave McSharry, Shane O'Leary, Conor Finn.
Connacht v Cardiff Blues
Saturday October 3rd
At the Sportsground, 5pm
Non televised
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