Connacht head coach Pat Lam has called for a reaction against Munster after his side were humbled by Ulster last time out in the RaboDirect PRO12.

Ulster vented their European frustrations with a thumping 58-12 win at Ravenhill last time out, a second straight defeat for Connacht, who were edged out away to Scarlets in their previous match.

Returning to the Sportsground however, Connacht's only defeat at home in any tournament since mid-December was 8-16 to Leinster in the PRO12 in January.

They have however lost their last ten matches against Irish provinces but have not suffered a clean sweep of defeats to fellow Irishmen in the same season since 2007-08.

And Lam is determined to ensure that does not happen under his watch.

"It doesn't get any bigger than Munster at home. It's always a tough game for us no matter where we play them,” he said.

“It's been seven weeks since we've played at the Sportsground and with a huge crowd expected, it's certainly going to be a special night. We can feel the buzz in training, the buzz around town. Everyone is up for it.

"But we know this is a must-win game for Munster too. Like us, they'll be hurting after their loss last week. We expect a big back lash and we need to be able to deal with it.

"We were so disappointed we didn't make anything of the opportunities we created against Ulster last week. We need to be so clinical especially against a side like Munster who don't give you many of those opportunities."

After putting out an unchanged team for the last four games, Lam has made seven personnel and two positional changes.

Willie Faloon is named at openside flanker for a first game in seven months as joins Eoin McKeon and captain John Muldoon in the back row.

Forwards Ronan Loughney and Andrew Browne are promoted from the bench and represent the only other changes to the pack.

Last week's try scorer Darragh Leader has been named to start at full-back while Ireland international Robbie Henshaw shifts to outside centre to partner Eoin Griffin.

Wingers Matt Healy and Danie Poolman return while Miah Nikora is handed the reins at out-half and completes an all-Irish qualified starting team.

Munster meanwhile, have been defeated in their last two encounters with opponents from Ireland.

Their only win in their last four PRO12 matches was at home to Treviso in round 17 and they lost their perfect home record last time out against Glasgow Warriors.

Head coach Rob Penney has made nine changes with Paul O'Connell returning.

Dave Kilcoyne and Damien Varley start in the front row with John Ryan making the positional switch to tight-head.

Paddy Butler takes the place of James Coughlan in the back-row as Varley takes over the captaincy duties.

Duncan Williams teams up with Ian Keatley at half-back, while Denis Hurley, Johne Murphy and Andrew Conway all join James Downey and Gerhard van den Heever in the backline.

"We knew we weren't quite right against Glasgow but we can't dwell on it, we move on and take our learnings out of the game,” said Penney.

"It was a great time to get those learnings, it is just unfortunate we have to go through this to get them, but that's just the reality of sport.

"We know what we need to do over the next five or six weeks if we're in it that long and we've got a window of opportunity and we are still masters of our own destiny, so to speak.”

At Sportsground, 6.15pm. Live on RTE
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR, 27th competition game)
Assistant Referees: David Wilkinson, Mark Patton (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Peter Ferguson (IRFU)
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (IRFU)