Connacht are already preparing for a pivotal fixture against the Scarlets this week to halt their run of three consecutive Pro12 defeats.

Connacht hooker Tom McCartney believes that Sunday's meeting in Llanelli will go a long way in determining his side's ambitions to qualify for Champions Cup rugby following their 13-0 loss to Leinster at the RDS on New Year's Day.

“If you look where the teams finished last year, Scarlets were sixth and we were seventh, so fixtures against them are almost double points,” says the former Auckland Blues player.

“It’s another big game, they are all big games for us at the moment, so it is important to go and get a win there.”

The Scarlets currently lead the table with 36 points, but with just nine separating the top from the current champions Glasgow Warriors in eighth place, Connacht will need to end their poor record in Llanelli where they have not won since 2004.

Confidence

McCartney, who has just returned from a hamstring injury last weekend, said Connacht would travel with confidence despite their latest loss in the

Pro 12

.

“As far as we are concerned, it’s another game next week, so we will go back to the process, park the [Leinster] game, and it’s all about the Scarlets,” he said.

“We are definitely confident going to the Scarlets. The game [against Leinster] was right in the balance, and we know when we get our game right, we can put any team under pressure in this league, so we have to go back to what we do right and get the result in Llanelli.

“At half-time we were happy where we were, but we were not ruthless enough in the second half and didn’t go out and get it.

“Leinster took their opportunities, and at 10-0 down it was always going to be tough to come back, so it was the pivotal moment in the game.”

The 30-year-old hooker, who suffered a hamstring tear while scoring a try in Connacht’s bonus point win over Treviso in November, now feels under increasing pressure with several players returning from injury.

“It’s been a good opportunity for some of the younger guys – all of whom have put their hand up – so coming back now there is a bit of pressure,” McCartney said.

“We were down to the bare bones for while; some of the younger guys got an opportunity and it has been awesome to watch them grow.

"Against Munster I was sitting there watching it and they were playing out of their skins, so it was great for those guys to get their chance, and when other guys come back, there is a lot more pressure.

“If you don’t perform, you know there are other guys there to do it.”