Cormac Izuchuku is included in the Ulster starting line-up for the first time since October as the Irish province make six changes to the starting XV which took to the field for the 24-20 defeat by Leinster for Saturday’s interprovincial against Connacht in Galway (17:30 GMT).
The second row has overcome injury and illness and this week committed his future to Ulster by agreeing a two-year contract extension.
Izuchukwu replaces Charlie Irvine in the second row for the Dexcom Stadium encounter and will partner Harry Sheridan, who will make his 50th appearance for the province.
Sam Crean and Scott Wilson come in at loose-head and tight-head prop respectively, with Tom Stewart retaining his position at hooker.
In the half-backs, scrum-half Conor McKee makes his first interprovincial derby start alongside fly-half Jack Murphy.
The two changes in the back division see Zac Ward start on the left wing and James Hume return to join Stuart McCloskey in the midfield after he missed out last week through illness.
In-form Werner Kok starts on the right wing after scoring two tries against Leinster, as Jacob Stockdale is retained at full-back.
David McCann, Nick Timoney and Juarno Augustus make up the back row.
The back-line replacements are Nathan Doak, Jake Flannery and Jude Postlethwaite, while the forward options on the bench are John Andrew, Angus Bell, Tom O’Toole, Joe Hopes and Bryn Ward.
Ulster go into the Christmas period in fifth position in the table after winning four and losing two of their URC matches to date.
Richie Murphy’s side will complete a trio of Irish interprovincial derbies when they host Munster in Belfast on 2 January.
Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster will give academy wing Daniel Ryan his senior debut as the western province look to bounce back from a dispiriting defeat by Dragons last time out.
Prop Denis Buckley will become Connacht’s second most capped player when he represents the side for the 270th time, behind only John Muldoon’s 327 outings for the side.
Lock David O’Connor will start in the second row against his former side, while scrum-half Ben Murphy, will feature against an Ulster side coached by his father Richie and featuring his brother Jack.
Connacht: Gilbert; Ryan, Forde, Aki, Treacy; Carty, B Murphy; Buckley, Heffernan, Bealham; Joyce, O’Connor; J Murphy, Prendergast, Jansen.
Replacements: Tierney-Martin, Duggan, Barrett, Murray, O’Brien, Devine, Ioane, Gavin.
Ulster: Stockdale; Kok, Hume, McCloskey, Z Ward; Crean, Stewart, Wilson; Sheridan, Izuchukwu; McCann, Timoney, Augustus.
Replacements: Andrew, Bell, O’Toole, Hopes, B Ward, Doak, Flannery, Postlethwaite.