Guinness PRO12: Treviso host Connacht on Friday, Munster take on Scarlets

Bottom side Treviso host Connacht on Friday looking for their first points of the Guinness PRO12 campaign, while Munster take on Scarlets.

The Italians have failed to win in their last eight PRO12 outings but will take heart from their defeat of Connacht at home last season.

Connacht head coach Pat Lam, whose side’s only defeat in the PRO12 so far this season came at table-topping Glasgow in round four, is expecting another tough test.

He said: "Treviso are a tough team to play away, especially up front where they will look to disrupt us. We showed last season at Stadio Monigo what can happen to us when we don't play as a team and we haven't let ourselves forget that in our preparations this week.

"Treviso will be looking for their first win of the season and at home in front of their home crowd but it's up to us to ensure the focus is on getting our processes right in order to carry on the winning momentum from the start of the season."

Lam has made five changes to the starting line-up that faced Cardiff Blues last time.

Shane Delahunt, 20, has been handed his first PRO12 start at hooker after coming on from the bench in the last two rounds. He starts in an all-new front-row this week with September Player of the Month, Denis Buckley, and Ireland-capped tighthead prop Rodney Ah You both called upon for the game.

In the back-row, Galway man Eoin McKeon is named at openside flanker while the only change to the backs sees Matt Healy start on the left wing, while Danie Poolman is included amongst the replacement backs along with Dave McSharry and Ian Porter.

Meanwhile, Treviso coach Umberto Casellato has also made changes to his side as Michele Campagnaro moves to the wing, with Luca Morisi in at outside centre alongside Enrico Bacchin.

Sam Christie takes the number ten shirt and will be paired with scrum-half Edoardo Gori.

In the forward pack, Matteo Zanusso returns at loosehead while Albert Anae debuts on the replacements bench. Corniel Van Zyl is in the second-row in place of captain Antonio Pavanello. Further back, Italy flanker Alessandro Zanni returns from injury.

Munster trip

In Friday’s other clash, sixth-placed Scarlets travel to face a Munster side who are currently only a point - and two places - above them.

Munster coach Anthony Foley has made eight changes to his starting XV for Friday's clash at Thomond Park. He has promoted the returning Peter O'Mahony to the blindside flank while an all-new front-row sees Dave Kilcoyne and BJ Botha pack down on either side of Kevin O'Byrne as the 23-year-old UL Bohs man makes his second PRO12 start.

Dave Foley retains his starting position in the second-row alongside Billy Holland who comes in to make his fourth league start of the season.

Following a sixteen-minute appearance from the bench last weekend, O'Mahony returns to the starting line-up and will captain the side. Tommy O'Donnell remains at openside with CJ Stander switching to number eight for the encounter.

In the half-backs, man of the match against Leinster - Conor Murray will again start at scrum-half with JJ Hanrahan promoted to number ten.

Ivan Dineen and Andrew Smith form the centre partnership at 12 and 13 respectively, while Gerhard van den Heever comes in to join Simon Zebo and Felix Jones in the back three.

The replacements see the inclusion of Argentinian hooker Eusebio Guinazu for the first time with Donncha O'Callaghan and Johne Murphy also returning to the matchday squad.

Opponents the Scarlets will be looking to build momentum following a solid victory over the Dragons last Sunday.

Head coach Wayne Pivac has made four changes to the starting XV from last weekend's derby clash. Aled Davies replaces the injured Gareth Davies whilst Phil John, Kirby Myhill and Rhodri Jones replace last week's front-row of Rob Evans, Emyr Phillips and Samson Lee.