European Challenge Cup/Connacht v Bath:With little at stake but pride, Connacht may find it difficult to claim only their second win in this year's European Challenge Cup which resumes at the Galway Sportsground this evening (7pm).
Bath, leaders in Connacht's pool and one of three clubs hotly tipped for European honours, are the visitors. They arrive as one of only five teams unbeaten in the competition.
With Connacht's qualification hopes sunk in France before Christmas, coach Michael Bradley is hoping pride will be enough in this last European home match of the season.
"We are out of Europe and this match has no meaning in terms of winning the competition," he says, " but it is a home fixture for us against a side who have been European Cup winners.
"We have a strong record and reputation in Europe, and while our reputation has not been dented this year, our record currently stands at one out of four. We should have beaten Bath and Harlequins earlier and didn't. This is our opportunity to put the record straight."
But Bradley must be concerned with the mounting injuries that have robbed his squad of several key players, more recently John Muldoon, Keith Matthews, Gavin Williams, and David Gannon. As a result, he has been forced to make a host of changes from the side that lost to Munster. And with knocks to captain John Fogarty, Ryan Strudwick and Ray Ofisa, Bradley has erred on the side of caution, keeping in mind the more important Celtic League.
With captain Fogarty on the bench, Adrian Flavin starts in the frontrow alongside Stephen Knoop and Brett Wilkinson, who this week agreed a new two-year contract with the province.
With Gannon out of action, Michael Swift comes in to partner Andrew Farley in the secondrow, while Brendan O'Connor replaces John Muldoon at blindside.
In the backs, Ted Robinson and Conor McPhillips start on the wings, with John Hearty in the centre. Darren Yapp, who is to undergo minor knee surgery next week, is named among the replacements.
The biggest change is a positional one with Paul Warwick taking over at outhalf and Mark McHugh moving to the centre. Warwick played at number 10 against Bath in England, and Bradley will be hoping McHugh's move adds a new dimension to Connacht's game.
Galwegians' outhalf Paul Durkan makes an appearance on the replacement benches alongside fellow development squad member David McGowan.
Bath, whose only hope of European Cup rugby next season rests on winning this competition, are taking no risks and have named a strong starting XV which sees the secondrow reunion of Danny Grewcock and club captain Steve Borthwick, who made his comeback from injury last weekend.
Lee Mears returns at hooker, while Gareth Delve makes his first start since his recovering from injury.
Bath will want to hit the ground running, conscious that Connacht, who played all the rugby in the first half at the Recreation Grounds, let a 10-point lead slip, eventually losing by 21-19.
"That is a big challenge and we really want to beat them at home," says Bradley.
CONNACHT:D Riordan; T Robinson, J Hearty, M McHugh, C McPhillips; P Warwick, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop, M Swift, A Farley (capt), B O'Connor, M Lacey, C Rigney. Replacements: J Fogarty, B Sturgess, D McGowan, R Ofisa, C Keane, P Durkan, D Yapp.
BATH:M Stephenson; J Maddock, C Walker, O Barkley, D Bory; C Malone, N Walshe; D Barnes, L Mears, A Jarvis, S Borthwick (capt), D Grewcock, A Beattie, J Scaysbrook, G Delve. Replacements: R Hawkins, L Ovens, P Short, I Feaunati, A Williams, S Berne, N Abendanon.
