Bundee Aki is primed to add firepower to Connacht’s cause when they take on defending champions the DHL Stormers in Stellenbosch on Saturday.

The Ireland and British & Irish Lions centre has been named on the bench of a match-day squad which features nine changes from the side that lost 36-10 to Ulster in round one, with six of those among the forwards. There’s a new front row of Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin and Finlay Bealham, and a new second-row partnership of Niall Murray and Josh Murphy, who moves from blindside flank.

Cian Prendergast and captain for the day Jarrad Butler come on to the flanks, with Paul Boyle retained at No 8.

Caolin Blade is named at scrumhalf with flyhalf Conor Fitzgerald for company, while the backline includes starts for Mack Hansen and Oran McNulty.

Ireland wing Hansen starts in the No 11 jersey with John Porch on the opposite wing and McNulty at fullback.

Connacht – 15 Oran McNulty, 14 John Porch, 13 Byron Ralston, 12 Tom Farrell, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Conor Fitzgerald, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Jarrad Butler (c), 6 Cian Prendergast, 5 Niall Murray, 4 Josh Murphy, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 1 Denis Buckley.
Subs: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Peter Dooley, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Oisín Dowling, 20 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Bundee Aki, 23 David Hawkshaw.

Photo: Twitter: @connachtrugby