Head coach Pat Lam insists Connacht are excited to do the club proud and make history when they visit Munster on Friday.

Connacht moved off the bottom of the RaboDirect PRO12 table last weekend, when they ended an eight-game losing streak with victory against Newport Gwent Dragons in Galway.

But Lam’s side, who have not won away from home in the tournament since they visited Edinburgh in April, face a tough task to back up the result.

They have only won once at the home of another Irish province in PRO12 history – a 26-23 win at Leinster in September 2002 – and Connacht come up against an in-form Munster side.

Lam makes three changes from the side that beat Dragons and Frank Murphy, starting at scrum-half, earns his 100^th Connacht cap.

Elsewhere, Fionn Carr starts on the right wing, while Andrew Browne is promoted from the bench to join John Muldoon and Eoin McKeon in the back row.

“We're really looking forward to the game,” said Lam. “These interprovincial games are huge occasions and a source of great pride for the players.

“It's a massive challenge as Munster are flying high at the top of the PRO12 table, they're topping their own Heineken Cup pool and we haven't beaten them down there since 1967.

“We have shown this season that if we go through the processes and bring heart to our game plan, we can get the outcome we all want. That's what we have to do.”

Munster retained their top spot in the RaboDirect PRO12 courtesy of their last gasp 16-10 win over Scarlets in Cork on Saturday.

The Munstermen have lost only one of their last eleven PRO12 fixtures – a 19-29 defeat to Treviso in September – and have won their last nine fixtures with Connacht.

However, head coach Rob Penney has made 14 changes to the side that beat Scarlets last weekend – only JJ Hanrahan survives.

Last week’s match-winner Ronan O’Mahony starts in the centres, while Donncha O’Callaghan joins Dave Foley in the second row.

At Thomond Park , 7.15pm.
Referee: Dudley Phillips (IRFU, 39th competition game)
Assistant Referees: Sean Gallagher, Eanna O’Dowd (both IRFU)
Citing Commissioner: Gordon Black (IRFU)
TMO: Alan Rogan (IRFU)

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