Connacht need to recapture form to keep Champions Cup hopes alive

Connacht’s most compelling league campaign ever has arguably been the story of the Pro12 season, although the wheels appear to have come off their audacious bid for a top six place and with it direct qualification for the European Champions Cup.

Despite three successive defeats, they are still grimly holding on to sixth spot by dint of having one more win than the Scarlets, with Edinburgh just a point behind both.

Put another way, they could do with reviving their Sportsground form with a win here, but face leaders Glasgow. An ever-worsening injury crisis hasn't helped, although Pat Lam has been able to limit the changes to three.

Restored

Jack Carty

has been restored ahead of

Miah Nikora

after

Craig Ronaldson

pulled up injured in the warm-up for the defeat against Ulster last time out. Their injury toll is more acutely felt up front, where academy lock Ultan Dillane has been called in to partner Aly Muldowney, while Eoin McKeon is recalled to the backrow. George Naoupu is in line to win his 100th cap from the replacements bench.

“You could say this is our toughest game of the season,” said Lam. “It’s up to us to go out and perform as a team.

“Glasgow are the league leaders for a reason. They are a well-coached side with huge depth in their squad and they are the number one offloading team who can score plenty of tries. So defensively, we will have to be spot on.”

The Warriors have not been so proficient on the road of late, winning just one of their last seven matches in all competitions, and that was against Zebre. Against that, they have won their last six meetings with Connacht, whose last win over the Scottish outfit was their 38-9 win here in February 2011.