Sam Prendergast will start at out-half for Leinster, as Leo Cullen's side get the defence of their BKT United Rugby Championship title under way on Friday against the Stormers in Cape Town.
While the province can’t avail of their British and Irish Lions contingent yet, Prendergast is one of nine players in the matchday squad who featured for Ireland in their summer wins over Georgia and Portugal.
The out-half is joined in the half-backs by Luke McGrath, who captains the team for the season opener.
Robbie Henshaw also starts, having missed Ireland’s summer tour due to injury, playing at outside centre, with Ciarán Frawley in the 12 shirt.
Jimmy O’Brien is named at full-back, and could make the shirt his own in the next few months with Hugo Keenan injured, while Jordan Larmour and Tommy O’Brien are named on the wings.
Cullen has been able to lean on experience in the front row, where Rabah Slimani is named at tighthead, while Ireland internationals Gus McCarthy and Jack Boyle pack down alongside him.
Diarmuid Mangan and Brian Deeny team up in the second row, while James Culhane will start the season at number 8, with Ryan Baird and Scott Penny on the flanks.
On the bench, there is a debut for academy tighthead prop Andrew Sparrow, while Harry Byrne is also included among the replacements having spent the second half of last season on loan at Bristol Bears.
Leinster: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Robbie Henshaw, Ciarán Frawley, Jordan Larmour; Sam Prendergast, Luke McGrath (capt); Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Rabah Slimani; Diarmuid Mangan, Brian Deeny; Ryan Baird, Scott Penny, James Culhane
Replacements: John McKee, Paddy McCarthy, Andrew Sparrow, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Fintan Gunne, Harry Byrne, Hugh Cooney
New signing Juarno Augustus (above) will make his debut for Ulster as the province begin their campaign against the Dragons in Belfast.
The South African, who joined from Northampton Saints in the summer, is named among the replacements, and is set to feature off the bench.
Head coach Richie Murphy has named a strong starting team, all of whom are Irish-qualified, with Iain Henderson captaining the team from the second row.
Jacob Stockdale, who suffered a shoulder injury on Ireland's summer tour starts on the left wing, and there are nine Ireland internationals in the first XV.
Rob Herring starts at hooker, packing down between props Callum Reid and Tom O’Toole.
Henderson, who sat out Ireland’s summer games, is partnered by Harry Sheridan at lock.
Cormac Izuchukwu is named at blindside flanker, with Nick Timoney on the openside, while David McCann gets the start at number eight.
Nathan Doak starts as expected at scrum-half, the 23-year-old now the indisputed first choice following the departure of John Cooney. Jack Murphy partners him in the half-backs.
Stuart McCloskey is at inside centre, with James Hume alongside him. Hume will make his 100th appearance for the province.
Zac Ward, player of the match in their pre-season win against Edinburgh, is on the right wing with Stockdale on the left, and Mike Lowry completes the side at full-back.
Ulster: Michael Lowry; Zac Ward, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Callum Reid, Rob Herring, Tom O’Toole; Iain Henderson (capt), Harry Sheridan; Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, David McCann
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Sam Crean, Scott Wilson, Matthew Dalton, Juarno Augustus, Conor McKee, Jake Flannery, Ben Carson
Craig Casey (above) will captain Munster for the first time when they take on Scarlets in their season-opener in Llanelli.
The scrum-half, who skippered Ireland on the summer tour, is one of five players in the matchday squad who were involved against either Portugal or Georgia.
Saturday's game will also be a milestone for hooker Niall Scannell, who makes his 200th Munster appearance.
Clayton McMillan has given a debut to former Ireland U20 centre Dan Kelly in his starting team, while another summer signing, JJ Hanrahan, starts his third stint at his home province.
Jeremy Loughman and Oli Jager will join Scannell in an experienced front row, while Jean Kleyn is available to start in the second row alongside Fineen Wycherley, having overcome a summer injury.
Jack O’Donoghue and Alex Kendellen are named on the flanks, either side of number 8 Brian Gleeson.
Casey and Hanrahan team up behind the scrum, while Kelly is joined in the centre by Alex Nankivell for what looks like being an exciting midfield partnership.
Shane Daly makes his return from injury on the right wing, with Thaakir Abrahams on the left, and Mike Haley completing the side at full-back.
There’s also a debut on the bench for tighthead Conor Bartley. The Young Munster clubman earned a contract last season after several seasons impressing in the AIL.
Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes and Jack Crowley are all named on the bench, having featured for Ireland in the summer, while Tom Farrell, John Hodnett, Diarmuid Kilgallen, Michael Milne, John Ryan and Andrew Smith were unavailable due to injury.
Munster: Mike Haley: Shane Daly, Dan Kelly, Alex Nankivell, Thaakir Abrahams; JJ Hanrahan, Craig Casey (capt); Jeremy Loughman, Niall Scannell, Oli Jager; Jean Kleyn, Fineen Wycherley; Jack O’Donoghue, Alex Kendellen, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Lee Barron, Josh Wycherley, Conor Bartley, Tom Ahern, Gavin Coombes, Paddy Patterson, Jack Crowley, Seán O’Brien.
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