Connacht are able to welcome back several of their international players for Sunday's Heineken Champions Cup opener away to Racing 92.

Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham and Kieran Marmion all start for Andy Friend's side, while Bundee Aki is named among the replacements.

Heffernan and Bealham are joined by Denis Buckley in the front row, while Ultan Dillane is partnered by Eoghan Masterson in the second row.

Jarrad Butler captains the side from openside flanker in a back row that also includes Sean Masterson and Paul Boyle.

Jack Carty starts at out-half, while Tom Daly and Sammy Arnold continue in the centre.

In the back three, Matt Healy comes on to the wing while Alex Wootton and John Porch are also both included.

There’s also a return to the matchday squad for Tiernan O’Halloran, with the Clifden native recovering from injury to be named among the replacements.

Connacht also confirmed that second round of PCR testing on Thursday produced no further positive results.

It followed a first positive case of COVID-19 within the squad, which left one player and three others deemed as close contacts and therefore ruled out of the game.

Connacht: 

15. John Porch
14. Alex Wootton
13. Sammy Arnold
12. Tom Daly
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion

1. Denis Buckley
2. Dave Heffernan
3. Finlay Bealham
4. Eoghan Masterson
5. Ultan Dillane
6. Sean Masterson
7. Jarrad Butler (C)
8. Paul Boyle

Replacements:

16. Shane Delahunt
17. Jordan Duggan
18. Jack Aungier
19. Cian Prendergast
20. Conor Oliver
21. Caolin Blade
22. Bundee Aki
23. Tiernan O’Halloran