The inclusion of prop Denis Buckley, who joins the front-row in place of the injured Brett Wilkinson, is the only change Eric Elwood has made for his side's PRO12 meeting with Aironi in the Sportsground on Saturday evening.

Recent victories over the Dragons and Ulster have left Eric Elwood's side well placed to climb the RaboDirect PRO12 table and with just two points separating Connacht from the Dragons and Treviso a best ever eighth place finish is certainly within reach.

Connacht: G Duffy; T O'Halloran, K Tonetti , H Fa'afili, F Vainikolo; M Nikora, F Murphy; D Buckley, E Reynecke, R Loughney; M Swift, M McCarthy; J Muldoon, R Ofisa, G Naoupu.

Replacements: A Flavin, S Maguire, R Ah You, M Kearney, J O'Connor, P O'Donohoe, M Jarvis, E Griffin.