Swanepoel replaces Benhard Janse van Rensburg in the number 13 jersey, with the latter missing the tour due to a concussion.

Louis Fouché starts at fullback in the place of Malcolm Jaer.

The exciting former NWU Pukke and Leopards fullback, Tapiwe Mafura, was set to make his first appearance for the Cheetahs, however, he did not board the flight to Ireland.

As Mafura is a Zimbabwean citizen there were visa issues. The player needs a Schengen visa and, should he be successful in acquiring it, he will be flying to Ireland on Friday.

Upfront Jasper Wiese will start at lock, while Charles Marais starts at loosehead prop. Marnus van der Merwe will also make his starting debut at hooker.

The Cheetahs coach, Franco Smith, told OFM Sport that he is sure the new faces will add value.

“There are guys like Henco Venter, who has returned. The other one is a player like Tapiwa Mafura.

“It means that Jacques du Toit and Marnus van der Merwe will be playing a role in the team.

“There is some excitement in the squad and there are some fresh faces. We’ve been working really hard to get them to a level where they are as good, if not better than the other players in the team.

“We ask of them to bring a new energy and a new level of creativity to the team.”

Saturday’s game at the Sportsground Stadium in Galway kicks off at 19:30.

Connacht - 15 Darragh Leader, 14 Cian Kelleher, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Tom Daly, 11 Stephen Fitzgerald, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Jarrad Butler (captain), 7 Colby Fainga’a, 6 Eoin McKeon, 5 James Cannon, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley.

Replacements - 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Peter McCabe, 18 Dominic Robertson-McCoy, 19 Cillian Gallagher, 20 Paul Boyle, 21 Kieran Marmion, 22 Conor Fitzgerald, 23 Kyle Godwin.

Toyota Cheetahs - 15 Louis Fouché, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Nico Lee, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Gerhard Olivier, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Abongile Nonkontwana, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Jasper Wiese, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Charles Marais.

Replacements – 16 Reinach Venter, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Walt Steenkamp, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 Rudy Paige.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport