Connacht v Llanelli Dubarry Park, 7.30p.m.:Connacht's first home game at Dubarry Park in a year will no doubt, in keeping with the previous three, draw another big crowd for another hugely significantly game for Michael Bradley's team, given the recent confirmation from IRFU chief executive Philip Browne that the province will not be debarred from competing in the Celtic League-Italian play-off for the 24th place in next season's Heineken European Cup.
This more complex route still seems a more realistic avenue into the premier European competition for the first time than winning the Challenge Cup and to reach that play-off Connacht effectively need to finish above one of the four Welsh sides (and hope Ulster do so as well).
To that end their recent win away to the Borders has put them four points ahead of Cardiff, and within six of their opponents tonight. Such is the congested nature of things in mid-table, however, the Scarlets, while casting one eye over their shoulders at the Irish provinces and Cardiff, are also within touching distance of the top four and home advantage in the end-of-season Celtic Cup for the league's top eight sides.
The Celtic League resumes after a two-week break and having played 21 competitive matches over the previous 22 weekends, Connacht will have been grateful for the respite more than most. They still come into this game with a number of injury concerns; Mark McHugh joining James Downey on the injury list while John O'Sullivan is suspended.
Connacht also have a doubt about Michael Swift (hamstring) with Brendan O'Connor set to start, while injuries to John Fogarty and Henry Burke see Irish under-21 hooker Joe Merrigan promoted to the bench. Nevertheless, Bradley is more than happy with the team at their disposal. "We've done well as a panel and we haven't been found wanting in any game in terms of talent." Bradley concedes Llanelli look a stronger, less sluggish all-round side than the one Connacht brilliantly overcame earlier in the season at Stradey Park, with the emergence of Andy Powell at number eight giving the Scarlets a source of go-forward ball they hadn't had before.
Connacht have failed to win any of their three previous outings in Athlone and this fixture has yet to yield a home win, but as Bradley says such sequences are made to be broken.
CONNACHT: M Mostyn; C McPhillips, P Warwick, D Yapp, T Robinson; D Slemen, T Tierney; R Hogan, B Jackman, P Bracken, C Short, A Farley (capt), M Swift, M Lacey, J Muldoon. Replacements: J Merrigan, D McFarlanjd, T Buckley, B O'Connor, C Keane, E Elwood, J Meagher.
LLANELLI: L Byrne; A Havili, M Watkins, S Finau, T Selley; G Bowen, M Philips; P John, M Rees, J Davies, V Cooper, C Wyatt, J Mils, A Powell, G Thomas. Replacements: D Williams, A Gravelle, A Jones, I Boobyer, L Davies, A Thomas, M Taylor.
Referee: Graeme Hannah (SRU).
Previous meetings: (03-04) (CC) Llanelli 12 Connacht 14; (CL) Connacht 20 Llanelli 25; (CL) Llanelli 33 Connacht 33.(04-05) (CL) Llanelli 21 Connacht 29. Celtic League Formguide: Connacht - L L L L W. Llanelli - W L W L W.
Leading try scorers: Connacht - Matt Mostyn, Conor O'Loughlin 3 each. Llanelli - Matthew Watkins 6, Aisea Havili 4. Leading points scorers: Connacht - Paul Warwick 102. Llanelli - Gareth Bowen 106.
Forecast: Llanelli to win.
