EVAN O’Connell will make his URC debut against Emirates Lions at Thomond Park on Saturday, 7.35pm.
He did feature in the contest between Munster and The All-Blacks XV at the same venue a few weeks’ back.
The former Ireland Under-20 captain is one of four Academy players included.
Short-term signing Dian Bleuler makes his first Munster start at loosehead prop.
Summer signing Thaakir Abrahams returns from injury on the wing for his first appearance since September.
Alex Nankivell is back in midfield for his third appearance of the season having missed the last three games due to a hip injury.
Mike Haley, Academy winger Shay McCarthy and Abrahams start in the back three.
Nankivell and Tom Farrell pair up in midfield with Ethan Coughlan and Billy Burns in the half-backs.
Bleuler, captain Diarmuid Barron and John Ryan pack down in the front row as O’Connell and Fineen Wycherley start together in the engine room.
Alex Kendellen returns from Ireland camp to start in the back row with Jack O’Donoghue and Gavin Coombes.
On the injury front, Tom Ahern was unavailable due to a knock.
Munster: Mike Haley; Shay McCarthy, Tom Farrell, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; Billy Burns, Ethan Coughlan; Dian Bleuler, Diarmuid Barron (captain), John Ryan; Evan O’Connell, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Niall Scannell, Kieran Ryan, Stephen Archer, Ruadhán Quinn, John Hodnett, Paddy Patterson, Tony Butler, Shane Daly.
