Connacht keep an eye on main prize

CONNACHT'S OBVIOUS imperative this weekend is to get a result against Edinburgh in the Sportsground on Friday night. But coach Michael Bradley is hoping to go into the mid-term break ahead of Ulster, who face into a daunting match against Munster at Ravenhill Road on Saturday.

Connacht and Edinburgh are level on eight points each in the Magners League table with Ulster propping up the bottom with just seven points from five matches played.

But Bradley will be aware that when Munster visited Ravenhill last April, they lost 19-9 as tries from Scottish international, Rob Dewey, Ryan Caldwell and Andrew Trimble gave Ulster a stunning win. It was Ulster's first win against Munster in four meetings and their win extended Ulster's gap over Connacht on the league table to eight points.

"It is a huge match for us and it would be great to go into the break on the back of a win," he said. "They will be confident after winning in France against Castres but our form is good and we have a great chance especially as the injuries are clearing up."

Yesterday Connacht captain John Muldoon was declared fit to play. The number eight limped off in the 27-10 loss to London Irish and had been a doubt for Friday's clash. Prop Robbie Morris has also been passed fit to play as Bradley's side seek Heineken Cup qualification for the first time.

Ulster go in to the Munster match with six defeats from seven outings in all competitions with Munster at five from five in the league as well as impressively taking control of their Heineken Cup pool.

"Munster are a great side and have such strength and depth right across the board," said Ulster captain Rory Best this week. "And a big difference between them and us at the minute is they have gone seven from seven in competitive games, so they will be coming to Ravenhill full of confidence.

"But whenever you play the other provinces, they are always tight affairs. Each team knows each other very well and if you look back at the Connacht-Leinster game, the quality Leinster had compared to Connacht, yet Connacht still won. That's the sort of thing that can happen in these inter-pro games."

Ulster report no real injury concerns ahead of what is a relatively quiet November. They will play Portugal on November 13th and their only other match next month is against Connacht on the 28th.

Munster will pick their squad today and changes are likely in the front five as a result of rotation.