Challenge Cup/Grenoble v Connacht: Connacht - the French team killers? This is the tag given to Michael Bradley's team on the Grenoble website, ahead of this evening's Challenge Cup quarter-final first leg in the Rhône-Alps region (south-east).

Having scalped Montpellier and Narbonne already this year along with Beziers, Pau and Narbonne last season, the element of surprise is no longer with them.

Now all Connacht have to do is end a three-game losing streak, which includes festive defeats to Munster and Ulster. Backs against the wall once more - just the way they like it.

Still, Bradley may have allowed a smile to cross his lips on discovering Grenoble coach Dean Richards' team selection. Several key players are out through a combination of injury and squad rotation, with the priority being survival in the French first division. Grenoble lie 12th and while winning silverware is important the former Lions, England and Leicester legend will be out of a job if Grenoble are relegated.

The absence of captain Alexandre Chazalet and Daniel Browne mean Grenoble's back row is weakened, off-setting the loss of Connacht number eight John O'Sullivan. The French would know nothing about his replacement John Muldoon's prowess on the hurling field with Portumna. That would make them think twice.

Also missing for the French are former Australia scrumhalf Sam Cordingley, kicking machine Maxime Suarez and giant Tongan lock Alifeleti Fakaongo.

"It's a situation where we don't want to give them even a glimmer of a win or they will be happy travelling away," said Bradley. "The most important thing for them is the French championship, as we saw with Bourgoin against Leinster. We would like to encourage them to make the same decision as Bourgoin for the return leg."

If Connacht win a bunch of cadets will travel to the Sportsground and Connacht will be in their second successive European semi-final.

Richards still maintains a strong team will take the field but Connacht will be expected to slow the supply to a dangerous back line. France-capped outhalf David Aucagne has a well-rounded game, which Connacht are familiar with as he lined out for Pau last year. The French will also attempt to use Tongan centre Sukannaivalu Hufanga to exploit the perceived soft underbelly in Connacht's midfield of Paul Warwick and Eric Elwood.

However, the South Sea Islander may get a shock when greeted in the tackle by the equally imposing James Downey.

"We decided to move them around depending on what move we call," explained Bradley. "If we are defending we will have James in the centre and Paul Warwick on the wing with Eric Elwood acting as a controlling figure throughout."

Downey, a revelation at 12 since moving from Leinster this season, has been switched to the wing where in open play he will be asked questions by Jean Victor Bertrand, the only other French international in Grenoble's line-up.

All the early signs are in Connacht's favour but this Grenoble side like to move the ball and have the back three to cause damage. Both Warwick and Downey's positional unfamiliarity on the wing will be exploited if Bertrand, full back Nicolas Carmona and Kiwi Jason Tiatia are afforded space.

With the temperature set to drop, Bradley would like to turn the contest into a battle up front and allow the old head of Elwood to dictate affairs. "A recurring feature in the last couple of weeks has been the weather and Eric is good at controlling games in difficult conditions. He's used to it. Besides moving James to the wing, in some attacking situations, the team selection is not that surprising. We have used Eric in the match away to Montpellier and he came in away to Narbonne."

CONNACHT: M Mostyn; J Downey, D Yapp, P Warwick, T Robinson; E Elwood, T Tierney; R Hogan, B Jackman, P Bracken; P Myburgh, A Farley (capt); M Swift, J Muldoon, M Lacey. Replacements: J Fogarty, A Clarke, C Short, B O'Connor, C Keane, N O'Brien, C McPhillips.

GRENOBLE: N Carmona; J Tiatia, R Lubbe, S Hufanga, J Bertrand; D Aucagne, Y Authier; S Petit, J Martin-Culet, R Martinez; J Blaikie, K Ghezal; J Puricelli, J Cudmore, P Laurent. Replacements: unavailable.

Referee: Ray Maybank (England).

Verdict: Connacht.