West expected to put up a fierce battle to end hoodoo

The Celtic League may still have more teething problems than a toddler, but, for all its troubles, it has provided some of the highs of the last two years.

And, in the absence of the interprovincials (which the IRFU may scrap), nothing has set the pulses racing quite like domestic squabbles such as tonight's quarter-final at Musgrave Park.

There were few better occasions or games than last year's inaugural Celtic League final and there have been few more engrossing matches this season than Connacht's win over Leinster at Donnybrook.

At a time when the IRFU are considering scrapping the Connacht side as well, it would be the ultimate irony were the supposed Cinderella province to beat the big two back-to-back for the first time.

Munster's fear will be that this latest threat to their very existence will galvanise Connacht like no team-talk from Steph Nel ever could, but Nel himself must be concerned that it will prove an emotionally and mentally debilitating distraction.

For the moment, the clearly concerned Connacht coach can merely say: "I'm treating it as a bad rumour, because nothing has been decided on. That's all I can do."

Connacht's state of mind is compounded by their apparent split personalities when faced by Leinster or Munster.

Whereas Connacht scalp Leinster about every two years, Munster have remained a bogey side in a way which suggests the westerners have been somewhat cowed by them, winning only four of their last 59 interprovincial meetings, the most recent of which was 16 years ago at Thomond Park - since then they've lost 18 times in succession to Munster.

"The record against Munster is a bit of a concern, but this Friday will be as good a chance as the boys will ever get to end that sequence," says Nel, "and this team has been quite good at getting rid of monkeys."

Granted, Connacht did win a pre-season friendly at the Sportsground in August, but the triumphalism of some Connacht supporters that day won't be forgotten in Munster, while coach Alan Gaffney has been able to cite Connacht's win at Donnybrook as a further warning to Munster's players.

Nel admits that this quarter-final is a daunting task and, mindful of how Connacht have crumbled around the fringes, they cannot let Munster overpower them again.

But, despite the spate of injuries to Munster's outside backs which has obliged them to convert Killian Keane into a full back and Colm McMahon into a wing, it is also Connacht's misfortune to run into a Munster pack at full-strength save for David Wallace.

This has left Gaffney with some "bloody tough calls" such as dropping Mick O'Driscoll, heretofore ever present, and omitting Mick Galwey from the 22.

Gaffney is expecting a sleeves-rolled-up affair.

"Connacht have already breached the Donnybrook fortress, and Leinster had a fair side out, and they've got nothing to lose. They may not have the best backline in the world but they score some good tries.

"A lot of their guys are Munster people," adds Gaffney, in reference to the likes of Peter Bracken, Paul Neville and John O'Sullivan, "and they will feel they've a point to prove".

Looking at the two line-ups, it's unlikely to flow like an exhibition game, all the more so given the prize at stake is a home semi-final against the winners of the Glasgow-Ulster quarter-final.

A forward-orientated game is likely to provide the basis for a kicking duel, both tactical and off the ground, between Ronan O'Gara and Eric Elwood.

Connacht do look to have more impact potential on the bench than their hosts, who nevertheless ought to have the firepower up front and at half-back to impose their will on their game.

A tough, rugged, full-on, old-style interpro in all but name, with most probably an even more familiar outcome, though it's liable to be a battle getting there.