HAVING NOT STARTED a game since 2013, Mike Sherry will finally return to the Munster team for Friday night’s pre-season friendly against Connacht at Thomond Park (7:45pm).

Sherry, who’s been sidelined for the past 21 months due to a series of knee and shoulder injuries, has been named at hooker for the meeting with Pat Lam’s side.

The Munster team will be captained by CJ Stander, who’ll be joined in the back-row by another returning injury absentee, Dave O’Callaghan, who hasn’t played since April.

Former Gloucester wing Shane Monahan will also start for Anthony Foley’s side, who lost to Bernard Jackman’s Grenoble in Limerick last weekend.

Foley has opted for a half-back partnership of Ian Keatley and Duncan Williams, while twice-capped All Black Francis Saili is in line to make his Munster debut after being included among the replacements. Eighteen-year-old out-half Bill Johnston, who received his Leaving Cert results last week, is also on the bench.

Elsewhere, Munster say they expect to be without the services of Denis Hurley for 8-10 weeks. The versatile back has sustained ankle ligament damage.

Munster (v Connacht):

15. David Johnston
14. Shane Monahan
13. Cian Bohane
12. Matt D’Arcy
11. Gerhard van den Heever
10. Ian Keatley
9. Duncan Williams

1. James Cronin
2. Mike Sherry
3. Stephen Archer
4. Sean McCarthy
5. Dave Foley
6. Dave O’Callaghan
7. Jack O’Donoghue
8. CJ Stander

Replacements:

Kevin O’Byrne
John Ryan
BJ Botha
Donncha O’Callaghan
Shane Buckley
Cathal Sheridan
Bill Johnston
Francis Saili
Niall Scannell
John Madigan
Jordan Coghlan
Stephen Fitzgerald

Last season's top try scorer Matt Healy starts on the wing for Connacht against Munster on Friday night. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Connacht head coach Pat Lam has also named his team for their third and final pre-season fixture, following defeats to Grenoble and Castres so far.

There are eight changes to the side that started the loss to Castres in France, with Kieran Marmion, Matt Healy and John Muldoon among those set to return, while prop Nathan White is named on the bench after making his Ireland debut last weekend against Scotland.

Connacht (v Munster):

15. Darragh Leader
14. Tiernan O’Halloran
13. Rory Parata
12. Bundee Aki
11. Matt Healy
10. Jack Carty
9. Kieran Marmion

1. JP Cooney
2. Tom McCartney
3. Rodney Ah You
4. Ultan Dillane
5. Andrew Browne
6. John Muldoon
7. Nepia Fox-Matamua
8. Eoghan Masterson

Replacements:

Finlay Bealham
Dave Heffernan
Nathan White
Quinn Roux
Ben Marshall
Eoin McKeon
George Naoupu
John Cooney
Craig Ronaldson
Danie Poolman
Dave McSharry

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