Challenge Cup teams: Changes for Connacht and Ulster

Connacht boss Pete Wilkins has made four changes to his side to take on Benetton in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Sunday (12.30pm).

Three of the four are due to injuries from the last-16 win in Pau last weekend.

Andrew Smith comes in on the wing instead of Shayne Bolton, while JJ Hanrahan will start at out-half to replace Jack Carty, who misses out with a hamstring strain.

Caolin Blade will captain the side from scrum-half.

Smith is joined in the back three by Shane Jennings and Tiernan O'Halloran at full-back.

The centre partnership remains unchanged with Bundee Aki and David Hawkshaw.

There are two changes in the forwards, with Darragh Murray and Paul Boyle coming in for Niall Murray and Jarrad Butler who is undergoing graduated return-to-play protocols.

Murray will be alongside Joe Joyce, and Boyle joins Cian Prendergast and Shamus Hurley-Langton in the back row.

Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran; Andrew Smith, David Hawkshaw, Bundee Aki, 1. Shane Jennings; JJ Hanrahan, Caolin Blade (capt); Denis Buckley, Dave Heffernan, Finlay Bealham; Joe Joyce, Darragh Murray; Cian Prendergast, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle.

Replacements: Eoin de Buitléar, Peter Dooley, Sam Illo, Niall Murray, Conor Oliver, Matthew Devine, Cathal Forde, Tom Farrell.

Benetton: Rhyno Smith; Ignacio Mendy, Tommaso Menoncello, Nacho Brex, Onisi Ratave; Tomas Albornoz, Alessandro Garbisi; Thomas Gallo, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Simone Ferrari; Niccolo Cannone, Federico Ruzza; Sebastian Negri, Michele Lamaro (capt), Toa Halafihi.

Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Eli Snyman, Alessandro Izekor, Lorenzo Cannone, Andy Uren, Jacob Umaga.

Meanwhile, Ulster forwards Iain Henderson and Steven Kitshoff (above) have been cleared for their tie