Connacht in Lion's den

Connacht enter what they fear may be the nearest equivalent to the Lion's den at the Stade Mayol in Toulon this evening, bearing a variety of scars from the French team's robust challenge last week. And they are bracing themselves for more with knobs on tonight.

The need for physical aggression matched with supreme self-discipline is seen as the key to Connacht's hopes, according to Connacht coach Glenn Ross. "Our boys know what's required of them. We have to play the game physically and aggressively, yet at the same time our discipline has to be huge."

In the event of any foul play, it is of some consolation to the Connacht coach that "an English referee will take care of that situation. If Toulon want to go out and provoke us into something other than rugby then hopefully that won't work. We won't get involved in anything other than playing rugby. Our tactics revolve around no-one reacting to it."

Toulon, of course, will be nursing wounds of a different kind, namely a 27-13 defeat which was partly attributable to a barrage of five penalties from Eric Elwood and as much as they are notoriously poor travellers, French sides are altogether more fractious still on their home patch.

They are sure to provide a more legitimately aggressive challenge from the off, as both teams seek the victory that will maintain slim hopes of catching unbeaten group leaders Ebbw Vale - whereas defeat will extinguish any hopes of progress.

Nonetheless, Ross is reasonably confident. "If we take them on up-front, like we did last week, then we can win, but if we're not prepared to take them on up front, then we can expect a long hard night."

European Shield - Pool 4 - Toulon v Connacht, Stade Mayol, tonight 8.00 (7.00 Irish time)

CONNACHT: S Allnutt; M Mostyn, M Deane, M Murphy, P Duignan; E Elwood, S McIvor; J Screene, B Jackman, M Cahill, G Webster, M McConnell, U O'Callaghan, M Steffert, I Dillon. Replacements - J Ferris, C Kilroy, S McKenna, J McVeigh or S McDonald, J Maher, C Rigney, E Brennan.

Previous meetings: Last week - Connacht 27 Toulon 13.