Leinster stretched for visit to Galway as they have seventeen players away with Ireland squad

Max Deegan has been named Leinster captain for the game with Connacht as the Dexcom Stadium (Friday 7.45pm, Premier)

Former Ireland international winger, the 32-times capped Jordan Larmour, will be making his season debut and following injury while both Connor Fahy and Alex Mullan are set to receive their first caps.

Fintan Gunne and Joey Carbery are the half-backs with Charlie Tector partnering Academy debutant Fahy in the centre. Larmour joins Joshua Kenny and Todd Lawlor in rounding out the back line.

Gus McCarthy starts at hooker with Alex Usanov and Niall Smyth the props. Brian Deeny and Alan Spicer join forces in the second row.

Scott Penny is in at openside flanker alongside Deegan on the blindside with James Culhane at number eight.

Stephen Smyth, Peter Dooley and Alex Mullan provide the front row cover with Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka filling out the forward replacements. Cormac Foley provides the reinforcements at scrum-half with Academy out-half Caspar Gabriel and Ciarán Mangan completing the matchday 23.

"We always look forward to coming to Connacht but this time it will be tinged with sadness after the passing of Sean Coppinger, their long serving groundsman. He was always a great character and gave us a great welcome. He will be sadly missed by all of us that love rugby," said Leinster coach Leo Cullen.

15. Todd Lawlor (2) 14. Joshua Kenny (14) 13. Connor Fahy (0) 12. Charlie Tector (29) 11. Jordan Larmour (118)

10. Joey Carbery (39) 9. Fintan Gunne (38) 1. Alex Usanov (15) 2. Gus McCarthy (34) 3. Niall Smyth (4) 4. Brian Deeny (55) 5. Alan Spicer (4) 6. Max Deegan (163) CAPTAIN7. Scott Penny (110) 8. James Culhane (27)

Replacements:16. Stephen Smyth (5) 17. Peter Dooley (106) 18. Alex Mullan (0) 19. Conor O’Tighearnaigh (15) 20. Alex Soroka (28) 21. Cormac Foley (23) 22. Caspar Gabriel (5) 23. Ciarán Mangan (4)