Keith Earls will make his first start of the season for Munster in their final Champions Cup Pool 1 game against Sale this weekend. 

The 27-year-old will partner Denis Hurley in the centre, with Pat Howard dropping to the replacements bench for the dead-rubber at Thomond Park on Sunday (3.15PM). 

With Felix Jones out with a bruised knee, Simon Zebo moves to full-back, and Ronan O'Mahony makes his first start on the wing. 

In the back-row, Dave O'Callaghan is in at blindside, Tommy O'Donnell stays at openside, and captain Peter O'Mahony moves to number 8 in place of the injured CJ Stander. 

MUNSTER (v Sale): Simon Zebo; Andrew Conway, Keith Earls, Denis Hurley, Ronan O'Mahony; Ian Keatley, Duncan Williams; James Cronin, Duncan Casey, BJ Botha; Dave Foley, Paul O'Connell; Dave O'Callaghan, Tommy O'Donnell, Peter O'Mahony (c).

Replacements: Eusebio Guinazu, John Ryan, Stephen Archer, Billy Holland, Robin Copeland, Ivan Dineen, JJ Hanrahan, Pat Howard.