Connacht welcome back star trio for crunch Glasgow game

Connacht welcome back star trio Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki and Matt Healy for Saturday's crunch Pro 12 fixture against league leaders Glasgow Warriors.

In total Pat Lam has made nine changes to his side which suffered a shock defeat away at Benetton Treviso last weekend as they look to secure a home semi-final and potentially top the league table.

Also returning for the Westerners is scrumhalf Kieran Marmion, who along with Tiernan O’Halloran will make his 100th appearance for the province at the Sportsground.

He joins Sale Sharks-bound AJ MacGinty at halfback, while captain John Muldoon returns to captain the side from number eight.

Ultan Dillane and Aly Muldowney come in at secondrow while Finlay Bealham, the only man to have appeared in all of Connacht's 28 games so far this season, returns at tigthead.

Ahead of the game, Lam said: “Going into play off rugby, we couldn’t ask for a better challenge than playing the defending champions who are on fire at the moment. Glasgow are undefeated since February and they have threats all over the park. While there is so much at stake, we know it’s important for us is to stay focused on what has got us here in the first place. The key now is raising all our standards and team work to yet another level over the next few weeks.

“While we have our place in the play offs secure, we all know what it would mean to the club and the province if we can bring a semi-final to the Sportsground for the first time.

“Both sides have an attacking mindset so it should be an entertaining game for all rugby fans and especially those at the sold out Sportsground. We are really looking forward to it.”

Connacht: Tiernan O'Halloran, Niyi Adeolokun, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy, AJ MacGinty, Kieran Marmion, Ronan Loughney, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Aly Muldowney, Sean O'Brien, Jake Heenan, John Muldoon. Replacements: Dave Heffernan, JP Cooney, Rodney Ah You, Quinn Roux, Eoin McKeon, John Cooney, Shane O'Leary, Peter Robb

Glasgow Warriors: Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Alex Dunbar, Peter Horne, Lee Jones, Finn Russell, Ali Price, Gordon Reid, Fraser Brown, Sila Puafisi, Leone Nakarawa, Jonny Gray, Rob Harley, Ryan Wilson, Josh Strauss. Replacements: Pat MacArthur, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Zander Fagerson, Tim Swinson, Simone Favaro, Grayson Hart, Mark Bennett, Sean Lamont