Depleted Connacht may struggle

MAGNERS LEAGUE Llanelli v Connacht:PLAYING THREE games in a week at the end of the season would be a tough ask for most squads but, given their resources and a full-time squad of just 28 players, it probably places greater strain on Connacht than anyone else; all the more so as tomorrow's trek comes hard on the heels of back-to-back derbies.

Ravaged by injury against Munster last Sunday before bouncing back with Wednesday’s momentous win over Leinster, Michael Bradley makes nine changes in personnel and three positional switches from the side which beat the European champions. Only the props Ronan Loughney and Robbie Morris, flanker Mike McComish (who moves to number eight), scrumhalf Conor O’Loughlin, Troy Nathan (who moves from outside to inside centre) and Brian Tuohy (who moves from right to left wing) start again tomorrow.

With Toulon next Friday in the Challenge Cup semi-final, followed by their potentially critical last day meeting with Ulster at Ravenhill a week later, some of the star performers against Leinster have not been asked to play their third game in eight days, notably John Muldoon, Sean Cronin, George Naoupu, Michael Swift and Gavin Duffy.

Excellent though they’ve been at home this season, and although they registered bonus points in their latest defeats on the road to the Ospreys and Leinster, Connacht have won just one of their last 34 away games in the Magners League: 13-11 against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade on April 18th, 2008.

The Scarlets have slipped to five successive defeats in all competitions since their 25-8 win over Ulster at Parc y Scarlets in early March, and that constitutes their only win in their last eight games against Irish opponents this season.

Consigned to next season’s Challenge Cup, the Scarlets will be seeking to restore some pride over their last two games, both at home, as well as avenging their earlier defeat this season at the Sportsground.

Lions hooker Matthew Rees returns, as does Rhys Priestland in the absence of Stephen Jones (injured ankle) with Martin Roberts starting at scrumhalf ahead of Tavis Knoyle.

SCARLETS: D Evans; S Lamont, R King, J Davies, A Fenby; R Priestland, M Roberts; I Thomas, M Rees, R Thomas, L Reed, D Welch, R McCusker, J Turnbull, D Lyons (capt). Replacements: P John, E Phillips, D Manu, D Day, T Knoyle, D Newton, L Williams.

CONNACHT: L Bibo; T O'Halloran, E Griffin, T Nathan, B Tuohy; I Keatley, C O'Loughlin; R Loughney, A Flavin, R Morris, D Nolan, B Upton, A Browne, R Ofisa, M McComish. Replacements: D Murphy, C Higgins, E McKeown, J O'Connor, K Campbell, M Nikora, A Wynne.

Referee: Andy Macpherson(SRU).

Forecast: Scarlets to win.