Rugby:Connacht coach Michael Bradley has made eight changes to his starting line-up as the province seek to get their bid for Heineken Cup qualification back on track against Leinster tomorrow night.
Connacht remain four points adrift of Ulster at the bottom of the Magners League but, with Ulster not back in action until Sunday, can ratchet up the pressure on Brian McLauglin’s side.
In the wake of a bruising encounter with Munster on Sunday evening, Bradley has opted to shake things up with changes across the board. Miah Nikora joins Conor O’Loughlin in a new half back partnerships while Brian Tuohy and Aidan Wynne come into the backline.
Up front, props Ronan Loughney and Robbie Morris are named in the front row, Mike McCarthy comes into the second row and Mike McComish replaces Johnny O’Connor at openside flanker.
Leinster named their starting XV yesterday and, despite the gulf separating the sides in the standings, full back Girvan Dempsey expects the league leaders to be put to the pin of their collars.
“They were unlucky not to get a win against Munster (on Sunday) and we know that we're in for a tough examination on Wednesday because they're an improving side who are on a high,” he said.
"There's no chance of getting an easy game there, but what Connacht have shown this year is that they have travelled particularly well in the competition and they could have won last month's game in the RDS.
“They really laid down a marker that day, they're also a side who are on the brink of qualifying for the Heineken Cup, so we'll need to be on top of our game.”
Connacht:Gavin Duffy; Brian Tuohy, Troy Nathan, Aidan Wynne, Fionn Carr; Miah Nikora, Conor O'Loughlin; Ronan Loughney, Sean Cronin, Robbie Morris; Michael Swift, Mike McCarthy; John Muldoon (capt), Mike McComish, George Naoupu. Replacements:Adrian Flavin, Brett Wilkinson, Bernie Upton, Andrew Browne, Johnny O'Connor, Kieran Campbell, Ian Keatley
Leinster:Girvan Dempsey; Andrew Conway, Brian O'Driscoll, Eoin O'Malley, Isa Nacewa; Shaun Berne, Eoin Reddan; Stan Wright, Richardt Strauss, CJ van der Linde; Nathan Hines, Malcolm O'Kelly; Kevin McLaughlin, Shane Jennings (capt), Stephen Keogh. Replacements:John Fogarty, Cian Healy, Leo Cullen, Jamie Heaslip, Paul O'Donohoe, Ian Madigan, Simon Keogh