Ryan Powell has recovered from a knee injury and will play in the Blues team that restarts its Celtic League campaign at Galway on Saturday.
The international scrum-half will be making his 100th appearance for Cardiff and the Blues since his debut in 1999.
Two other changes in the team that beat Ulster last week see the return of Dean Dewdney in place of Fereti Tuilagi on the wing and Rhys Thomas instead of Gareth Williams at hooker.
Maama Molitika has completed a loan agreement from Harlequins and is named among the replacements.
Team: Craig Morgan; Jonny Vaughton, Tom Shanklin (captain), Tristan Davies, Dean Dewdney; Nick Macleod, Ryan Powell; John Yapp, Rhys Thomas, Gethin Jenkins, Deiniol Jones, Robert Sidoli, Nathan Thomas, Kort Schubert, Robin Sowden-Taylor
Replacements: Martin Jones, Gareth Williams, Nathan Budgett, Mama Molitika, Lee Thomas, Shaun James, Jonny Bryant
Connacht: M Mostyn; C McPhillips, D Yapp, J Downey, T Robinson; P Warwick, C Keane; R Hogan, B Jackman, S Knoop, C Short, A Farley, J Muldoon, M Lacey, J O'Sullivan.
Replacements: D McFarland, J Fogarty, P Myburgh, M Swift, T Tierney, D Slemen, M McHugh
Referee: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland)