Joey Carbery's in line to feature for Munster for the first time in over a year after being named on the bench for Friday's Guinness PRO14 game away to Cardiff Blues.

The 25-year-old hasn't played for Munster since January 2020 due to a combination of an ankle and wrist injuries.

Carbery's initial injury was sustained in a Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Italy in August 2019, although it didn't rule him out of the tournament in Japan.

Munster head coach Johan van Graan has made six changes from the side that beat Edinburgh last time out.

Jack O’Donoghue captains the side and is joined in the back row by Chris Cloete and Jack O’Sullivan.

Fineen Wycherley scrums down next to Jean Kleyn in the second row with Kevin O’Byrne named in the front row in between James Cronin and John Ryan.

Shane Daly returns from Ireland camp to retain his position on the left wing with Calvin Nash named on the opposite side as Mike Haley completes the back three at full-back.

Rory Scannell and Damian de Allende form the centre partnership and Nick McCarthy joins JJ Hanrahan in the half-back pairing.

Billy Holland is named among the replacements and could move ahead of Ronan O’Gara for all-time Munster appearances and become the second most capped player for the province for his 241st appearance in red.

Paddy Patterson is in line to make his Munster debut as he provides the scrum-half cover.

Munster: (15-9) Mike Haley; Calvin Nash, Rory Scannell, Damian de Allende, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Nick McCarthy.

(1-8) James Cronin, Kevin O’Byrne, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue (C), Chris Cloete, Jack O’Sullivan.

Replacements: Niall Scannell, Liam O’Connor, Roman Salanoa, Billy Holland, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, Joey Carbery, Darren Sweetnam.