After missing over 11 months due to surgery on a troublescome foot injury, long-term absentee Mack Hansen will start the BKT United Rugby Championship opener.
He came through pre-season without issue and will feature on the right wing tomorrow at Dexcom Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).
It promises to be a special occasion in Galway, with Connacht's PRO12 title-winning team returning to the stadium at half-time to mark the 10-year anniversary of their historic triumph.
Match tickets are selling fast, with Clan Stand seating and Clan Stand Terrace 1 now fully sold out. Limited availability remains across all other areas, including Clan Terrace 2. Buy your tickets here.
South African signing Francois van Wyk will make his URC debut for Connacht at loosehead prop, and Academy back rower Max Flynn is poised for his senior bow as a replacement.
Stuart Lancaster's men and the Stormers both reached the Championship play-offs last season, and the westerners recorded a terrific 33-24 win in Cape Town last April.
Paul Boyle, one of the try scorers in that game, will captain Connacht from number 8, with Seán O'Brien and Shamus Hurley-Langton filling the flanker berths.
Newcomer van Wyk combines with Eoin de Buitléar and Ireland prop Finlay Bealham in the front row. Hookers Dave Heffernan and Dylan Tierney-Martin are both on the injury list, the latter having recently undergone an ankle operation.
Niall Murray and Josh Murphy form the second row pairing, while Josh Ioane and Ben Murphy will lead the westerners' back-line, as they did in last May's quarter-final defeat to Glasgow Warriors.
Lining out at inside centre, Cathal Forde has recovered from the wrist injury that kept him out of the business end of last season. John Devine, Finn Treacy, and Sam Gilbert complete the starting XV.
Speaking ahead of the first round fixture, which will be broadcast live on TG4 and Premier Sports 1, head coach Lancaster said: "It is great to finally get the season going after a long but positive pre-season.
"We feel like we have prepared well and now we're looking forward to putting our best foot forward in front of our home supporters.
"Mack's inclusion is obviously a big boost, and it will be a proud day for Francois and Max too.
"We're missing a good few through Irish selection and injury but it is a strong 23, which we know will have to front up physically against a strong Stormers side that are well coached and have a good mix of power and pace."
The seven Connacht players involved in Ireland's Nations Championship games in the summer, including new signing Ciarán Frawley, are not available this week, with their return to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
CONNACHT (v DHL Stormers): Sam Gilbert; Mack Hansen, John Devine, Cathal Forde, Finn Treacy; Josh Ioane, Ben Murphy; Francois van Wyk, Eoin de Buitléar, Finlay Bealham, Niall Murray, Josh Murphy, Seán O’Brien, Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle (capt).
Replacements: Matthew Victory, Jordan Duggan, Fiachna Barrett, David O'Connor, Max Flynn, Caolin Blade, Seán Naughton, Shayne Bolton.
