Connacht v Dragons:Speaking to Connacht captain Andrew Farley at the recent Magners Celtic League launch it became patently clear the primary long-term goal of Irish rugby's poorest professional sibling remains unchanged.
"We still want to achieve qualification to the Heineken European Cup. That is our main focus at the start of every season."
They remain, in essence, the development province with the now established theory: perform for Connacht and Leinster or Munster will inevitably come a calling.
And yet, some clever signings should ensure a competitive drive from the western outfit in the 2007/08 season - providing an injury plague doesn't decimate their aspirations. The return of Johnny O'Connor, Mel Deane and Gavin Duffy (absent on World Cup duty) from the English Premiership is a significant coup, while Englishman Robbie Morris (tighthead), Samoan Ofisa Treviranus (wing) and Australian Tim Donnelly (outhalf) all make their competitive debuts this evening.
The progress of 27-year-old Donnelly will be keenly analysed as he attempts to fill the void left by Munster's head-hunting of Paul Warwick. The injured Andy Dunne will eventually provide an alternative option.
This scenario also applies to Morris who replaces Leinster's new signing Stephen Knoop.
Notice the pattern? Regardless, providing Donnelly or Peter Durcan attain a decent kicking return, Connacht should have enough to see off the Dragons, who have not won a game in Ireland since beating Ulster in 2004.
The visitors do have the benefit of two outings - the Welsh started earlier to avoid fixture congestion when the Anglo-Welsh Cup gets underway - when they beat the Scarlets and lost to the Blues but their team will hardly strike fear into Connacht hearts.
The development of Durcan, Aidan Wynne and Conor McPhillips, now back at his old scrumhalf position after Chris Keane also went to Leinster, are other areas of interest for Connacht and Irish rugby.
CONNACHT: P Durcan; O Treviranus, M Deane, A Wynne, D Yapp; T Donnelly, C McPhillips; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris; M Swift, A Farley (capt); R Ofisa, J O'Connor, J Muldoon. Replacements: J Fogarty, R Loughney, D Gannon, M McCarthy, C Rigney, C O'Loughlin, D Riordan.
DRAGONS: M Thomas; G Wyatt, R Gomer-Davies, A Smith, R Mustoe; G McCarthy, A Williams; A Black, S Jones, R Thomas; A Hall (capt), P Sidoli; J Ringer, R Parks, J Bearman. Replacements: B Daly, H Gustafson, L Charteris, D Lediate, N Fitisemanu.
Referee: N Paterson (SRU).
Verdict: Connacht.
