Connacht v Cardiff:Connacht's efforts now are all for pride. While nobody knows what next season will bring in terms of competition, the province will concentrate on trying to catch Munster. With seven players injured Connacht have made four changes from last week's starting line-up.

A new centre partnership sees captain Mark McHugh and John Hearty team up in place of Gavin Williams and Daniel Riordan, with Riordan named in the replacements with Peter Durcan.

Stephen Knoop has recovered from his hamstring injury to start in place of Ray Hogan, who reverts to the bench, while Michael Swift partners Andrew Farley in the second row for the first time since January. Swift comes in for David Gannon, who injured a calf muscle in training.

The underage international Andrew Browne comes into the Connacht squad for the first time among the replacements. Browne was a member of the Ireland under-20 side that recently won a Six Nations grand slam.

Cardiff welcome back three players who have recovered from long-term injuries.

Having suffered a career threatening ankle dislocation and break in the second league match of the season, Robin Sowden-Taylor makes it across the whitewash, while the Blues also welcome the return of backrow forward Andy Powell and centre Tom Riley.

Cardiff have won three of their last four games in the league, beating Llanelli and Border Reivers at the Arms Park and Munster at Musgrave Park. Their only loss was against Glasgow Warriors.

Connacht have won only four games in total.

CONNACHT: G Duffy; D Yapp, J Hearty, M McHugh (c), C McPhillips; P Warwick, C Keane; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, S Knoop; M Swift, A Farley; J Muldoon, R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements: J Fogarty, R Hogan, R Strudwick, A Browne, P Durcan, D Slemen, D Riordan.

CARDIFF: B Blair; T James, T Shanklin (c), M Stcherbina, C Czekaj; N Robinson, M Phillips; G Jenkins, G Williams, T Filise; B Davies, R Sidoli; S Morgan, R Sowden-Taylor, M Lewis. Replacements: S Roberts, T Rhys Thomas, D Jones, A Powell, E Fairhurst, N Macleod, T Riley.

Referee: P Allen (Scotland).

Verdict: Cardiff.