Cooney and Treadwell among seven Ulster changes

Cooney sat out last week's defeat by Bulls in South Africa

United Rugby Championship - Ulster v Connacht

Venue: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast Date: Saturday, 12 October Kick-off: 20:00 BST

Coverage: Watch live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app

John Cooney and Kieran Treadwell have been recalled as Ulster make seven changes for Saturday's United Rugby Championship interpro against Connacht.

Cooney replaces Nathan Doak at scrum-half while Treadwell returns to partner captain Iain Henderson in the second row.

Jude Postlethwaite is named at 12 after being released early from the Emerging Ireland tour, with Ethan McIlroy, John Andrew, Tom O'Toole and Nick Timoney also recalled.

Andrew Warwick and Alan O'Connor are in line for their 200th Ulster caps on Saturday while Timoney will win his 150th.

Ben Murphy, the son of Ulster head coach Richie Murphy, will start at scrum-half for Connacht.

After scoring a superb solo try against Bulls, Jacob Stockdale starts on the left wing with Werner Kok on the opposite side on his full home debut.

The returning Postlethwaite is partnered by Stewart Moore in midfield while Aidan Morgan is retained at fly-half after scoring two tries in his opening three games for the province.

While Ulster - who will debut their new black strip on Saturday - are coming off back-to-back defeats in South Africa, Connacht are searching for a third win in a row after beating Sharks and Scarlets in the last couple of weeks.

For Pete Wilkins' side, second row Joe Joyce and fly-half Josh Ioane have recovered from injury to make the starting line-up with Sean O'Brien making his first appearance of the season at open-side flanker.

Number eight Paul Boyle and wing Shayne Bolton are also recalled to a side which features Irish internationals Finlay Bealham, Cian Prendergast, Mack Hansen and Bundee Aki.

Ulster edged past Connacht 20-19 when the sides met in Belfast last December.

Line-ups

Ulster: Ethan McIlroy; Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Jude Postlethwaite, Jacob Stockdale; Aidan Morgan, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson (capt), Kieran Treadwell, David McCann, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: James McCormick, Callum Reid, Corrie Barrett, Alan O’Connor, Marcus Rea, Nathan Doak, Ben Carson, Mike Lowry.

Connacht: Santiago Cordero; Mack Hansen, Piers O'Conor, Bundee Aki, Shayne Bolton; Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Josh Murphy, Cian Prendergast (capt) Sean O’Brien, Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Dylan Tierney-Martin, Peter Dooley, Temi Lasisi, Oisin Dowling, David O’Connor, Caolin Blade, Cathal Forde, Conor Oliver.