Connacht have made three changes to their side to take on Ulster at Dexcom Stadium in Saturday’s URC derby, while the visitors have handed academy out-half Jack Murphy a first start.

Head coach Pete Wilkins has drafted in half-backs Caolin Blade and Jack Carty, and wing Santiago Cordero to the side that lost 20-12 to Leinster last Saturday at Aviva Stadium.

The pack is unchanged with Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham in the front row, with Josh Murphy and Darragh Murray in the second row for the Galway clash.

Cian Prendergast captains the side from blindside flanker, with Shamus Hurley-Langton on the other side and Paul Boyle at number 8.

Bundee Aki and Cathal Forde continue in the centre, while Mack Hansen starts from the right wing and Piers O’Conor is at full-back.

The 6:2 split on the bench also continues, with Peter Dooley returning from injury to start as replacement loosehead prop, and Conor Oliver again wearing the 23 jersey.

Wilkins said: “Ulster have come to Dexcom Stadium in recent years with real fire in their belly.

“A few things might not have clicked for them against Munster but their intensity level was as good as I have seen for some time.

“We will need to be at the level which we were in that second half against Leinster, we can’t let our execution of accuracy drop.”

Meanwhile, Ulster boss Richie Murphy has handed a first start to son Jack, who gets the out-half shirt for the visit to Galway.

He made his debut as a replacement in last weekend’s defeat to Munster.

Fellow academy back Rory Telfer also gets a first start after two appearances from the bench against Bordeaux and Munster.

Academy centre Wilhelm De Klerk is in line for a senior debut should he be called on from the replacements bench.

The front row sees two changes from Munster, with Eric O’Sullivan starting at loosehead prop, joining hooker, Rob Herring, and Scott Wilson at tighthead prop.

Alan O’Connor once again captains the team in the second-row engine room, with Cormac Izuchukwu returning to start alongside him.

In the back-row, Matty Rea starts at blindside flanker, with Nick Timoney coming back in at openside flanker.

After scoring his first try against Munster, James McNabney, gets the nod in the number 8 jersey.

In a new half-back partnership, scrum-half, Nathan Doak, returns from injury to partner Murphy on his maiden start.

Telfer starts on the left wing, with Werner Kok retaining his position on the right wing.

The centre partnership sees one change, with Ben Carson returning from injury to start at outside centre and Jude Postlethwaite shifts over to inside centre.

Fresh after nailing down his future with a new contract extension, Michael Lowry, completes the backfield at full-back.

Murphy opts for a 5:3 split on the bench, with John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Corrie Barrett, Kieran Treadwell, David McCann providing the forward replacements and John Cooney, Aidan Morgan and De Klerk as the backline options.

Connacht: Piers O’Conor; Mack Hansen, Cathal Forde, Bundee Aki, Santiago Cordero; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Josh Murphy, Darragh Murray; Cian Prendergast (capt), Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle.

Replacement: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Jack Aungier, Oisín Dowling, Sean Jansen, Ben Murphy, Shane Jennings, Conor Oliver.

Ulster: Michael Lowry; Werner Kok, Ben Carson, Jude Postlethwaite, Rory Telfer; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Eric O’Sullivan, Rob Herring, Scott Wilson; Alan O’Connor (capt), Cormac Izuchukwu; Matty Rea, Nick Timoney, James McNabney.

Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Corrie Barrett, Kieran Treadwell, David McCann, John Cooney, Aidan Morgan, Wilhelm De Klerk.

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)