Testing time for Connacht

Celtic League/ Borders v Connacht Netherdale (7.30): The Borders' recent run of three successive home victories, including a win over Leinster last time out, has become a little bit of a burden according to coach Steve Bates.

"In a sense the prospect of four home successes increases the pressure on us because there is now an expectation that we will win. But it has not done our confidence any harm."

The Scottish side, though, will be without a couple of their internationals in young scrumhalf Chris Cussiter and wing Simon Danielli, both required by national coach Matt Williams as he prepares for the start of the Six Nations Championship.

Of greater importance to the outcome of tonight's game is the absence of leading points and try scorer, New Zealander Charlie Hore. In order to the fulfil the rules regarding the number of foreign players in a team, Hore steps down to allow number eight Wayne McEntee to be introduced to the backrow.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made a few changes to the team that lost so disappointingly to Cardiff last weekend. Mark McHugh replaces the injured James Downey, Paul Warwick moves to outside centre, Darren Yapp to the left wing while David Slemen is named at outhalf. Tom Tierney comes in at scrumhalf for Chris Keane who drops to the bench.

John Fogarty wins the hooking role from Bernard Jackman, Peter Bracken is preferred to Stephen Knoop at tighthead prop. Michael Swift is recalled to the backrow. Despite Borders' recent good form at home they look at little vulnerable without the aforementioned players and it would be a timely fillip for Connacht to rediscover their winning ways as they try and secure a Celtic Cup place.

THE BORDERS: G Morton; S Moffat, C MacRae, A Dickson, N Walker; A Warnock, J Weston; P Thomson (capt), R Ford, G Cross; M Blair, C Stewart; J Dalziel, W McEntee, A Miller. Replacements: W Kay, T McGee, K Brown, J Pattison, B McKerchar, I Berthinussen, J Steel.

CONNACHT: M Mostyn; C McPhilips, P Warwick, M McHugh, D Yapp; D Slemen, T Tierney; R Hogan, J Fogarty, P Bracken; C Short, A Farley, M Swift, J O' Sullivan, J Muldoon. Replacements: B Jackman, D McFarland, S Knoop, P Myburgh, B O'Connor, C Keane, T Robinson.

Referee: T Hayes (Wales).

Head to head (recent meetings): August 2002 (CL) at Philiphaugh: The Borders 27 Connacht 28; September 2003 (CC) at Netherdale: The Borders 21 Connacht 26; October 2003 (CL) at Sportsground: Connacht 42 The Borders 19; March 2004 (CL) at Netherdale: The Borders 40 Connacht 29; October 2004 (CL) at Sportsground: Connacht 29 The Borders 27.

Leading points scorers: The Borders - Charlie Hore 100. Connacht - Paul Warwick 95.

Leading try scorers: The Borders - Charlie Hore 4. Connacht - Matt Mostyn, Conor O'Loughlin 3 each.

Verdict: Connacht.