Mullins replaces banned Hansen for Connacht

Chay Mullins signed his first professional deal for Connacht last May before representing Ireland Sevens at the Paris Olympics

Ireland Sevens Olympian Chay Mullins replaces the suspended wing Mack Hansen in a much-changed Connacht side to face Lyon in the European Challenge Cup in Galway on Saturday.

Mullins is among four changes in personnel in the backs with coach Pete Wilkins also making positional switches from the home defeat by Ulster in the United Rugby Championship.

Josh Ioane and Ben Murphy take over from Jack Carty and Caolin Blade in the half-backs with Shane Jennings drafted in at wing.

Argentina's Santiago Cordero switches from wing to full-back with Piers O'Connor moving to centre alongside Bundee Aki as Cathal Forde drops to a replacements bench which includes Blade.

Ireland prop Finlay Bealham and flankers Cian Prendergast and Shamus Hurley-Langton are the only forwards retained from the Ulster defeat.

Peter Dooley and Dave Heffernan are drafted into the front row with Oisin Dowling and Joe Joyce forming a new lock partnership and Sean Jansen taking over from Paul Boyle at number eight.

Boyle, hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin and second row Josh Murphy drop to the bench with Denis Buckley and Niall Murray not named in the matchday squad after starting against Ulster.

The contest is a battle between the top two sides in Pool 1 with Connacht leading the table by one point after opening bonus-point wins over Zebre and Perpignan.

Connacht: Cordero; Mullins, O'Conor, Aki, Jennings; Ioane, Murphy; Dooley, Heffernan, Bealham; Dowling, Joyce; Prendergast (capt), Hurley-Langton, Jansen

Replacements: Tierney-Martin, Duggan, Aungier, Murphy, Boyle, Blade, Forde, Hawkshaw