There are five personnel changes from the starting XV that lined out against Zebre last week.
Jack Carty has recovered from the injury that kept him out last time to take his place at outhalf. There is a shift in the backline as Craig Ronaldson moves out to inside centre and Bundee Aki wears the 13 shirt, having played there in his Connacht debut in the same fixture last year.
Galway man Darragh Leader is named on the wing for his first start of the season, replacing Danie Poolman who pulled up with a minor hamstring injury during the week.
Up front, 21-year-old Academy hooker Shane Delahunt will make just his second senior start and packs down in a front row with the experienced Denis Buckley and Rodney Ah You. Aly Muldowney is also named for his first start of the season, joining Quinn Roux in the second row.
The back row sees Eoin McKeon shift to blindside flanker to make way for Eoghan Masterson at Number 8. Top try scorer Nepia-Fox Matamua completes the youthful back row.
From the bench, backs Ian Porter and Niyi Adeolokun are both in line to make their first appearance this season.
Commenting on the team selection and the upcoming game, head coach Pat Lam said:
"We always said we would have to rely on our full squad in this busy block of games and we've made some changes this week as planned, especially with a few guys carrying niggles. There is a lot of good competition for places and everyone is desperate to get in to the team so I have no doubt the guys coming in this week will be keen to perform.
"Tiernan (O'Halloran) is named as captain and I'm delighted for him and his family. He is part of our leadership group and even at 24 years of age, he's one of the senior players on and off the pitch.
"It's always a big challenge for us going over to play Ospreys. They have a big squad full of quality players who will be determined to continue their drive back up the table. For us, a win there is well overdue and we know that if we stick to our structures and play as a team for 80 plus minutes, we will have a good chance tomorrow. "
Connacht 15 - 9: Tiernan O'Halloran (captain), Darragh Laeder, Bundee Aki, Craig Ronaldson, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, Kieran Marmion
1 - 8: Denis Buckley, Shane Delahunt, Rodney Ah You, Quinn Roux, Aly Muldowney, Eoin McKeon, Nepia Fox-Matamua, Eoghan Masterson
Replacements: Dave Heffernan, Conan O'Donnell, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, John Muldoon, Ian Porter, Rory Parata, Niyi Adeolokun
Unavailable / Injured: Tom McCartney,Jason Harris-Wright, Ronan Loughney, Nathan White, JP Cooney, Ben Marshall, Jake Heenan, John Cooney, Api Pewhairangi, Robbie Henshaw, Dave McSharry, Shane O'Leary, Conor Finn, Fionn Carr, Danie Poolman.
Ospreys v Connacht
Saturday October 24th
At Liberty Stadium, 1:30pm
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