Connacht v Borders: Given Connacht's form away from home and their run of four wins from five outings, including a win against The Borders, the province should not be coy about placing themselves as favourites for this one at the Sportsground today.
While coach Michael Bradley, having used 30 players so far in the campaign, continues to rotate his squad, he will be thankful for the return of Eric Elwood and Wayne Munn. Both have been pivotal players on the team, although Connacht have continued to perform well without them. Mark McHugh particularly, with 11 good kicks from 14 attempts, has carried out that duty as well as Bradley could have expected.
It was at half-time against The Borders that Elwood was taken off injured last month and he subsequently missed the victories away to Glasgow and Llanelli. Munn was injured in the Glasgow meeting as was flanker Michael Swift, who has yet to make a recovery.
The former UCD captain and centre Shane Moore also comes into the side, while hooker John Fogarty takes over from the former Clontarf captain Bernard Jackman in the front row.
After the savage run of away games, the province will look forward to this, their first home match since the opening game of the season when they defeated Edinburgh. Since then it has been four away matches in succession, the important one, in the context of this meeting, their late win over Borders by five points.
The Scottish side have two players coming into the starting line-up - international Cammie Murray arriving back from injury and into the left wing and Kelvin Todd, the former Northampton prop, who has signed up with the Scots until the end of the season. They also have Dodie Weir, a wealth of international experience, sitting on the bench if required.
The Borders are hoping they have finally turned the corner after a bleak start to the season, their recent 22-20 win over Cardiff giving them the scent of victory for the first time in four league appearances.
They are still rooted to the foot of the table, one rung above bottom placed Leinster.
Bradley, can't shake off the favourites tag but he will consider the visitors a dangerous side.
CONNACHT: M McHugh; M Mostyn, D Yapp, S Moore, W Munn; E Elwood, M Walls; R Hogan, J Fogarty, F Boiroux; D Browne, A Farley; P Neville, T Carter, J O'Sullivan.
THE BORDERS: G Morton; C Moir, J Stuart, K Utterson, C Murray; G Armstrong, C Laidlaw; K Todd, S Scott, C Dunlea, S McLeod, C Stewart, A Rennick, D Kane, C Feather.
Referee: D Davies (Wales)
