Chances of winning actual silverware seldom come along for Connacht and their coach Michael Bradley makes little secret of the way he and his squad have targeted the inaugural Celtic Cup as a rare opportunity.
The draw has pitted them against the whipping boys of the Celtic League thus far, The Borders, having leaked 13 tries and over 100 points in the first two rounds. That said, The Borders will be concentrating on this game just as strongly and, mindful of how they lost out in a 55-point thriller when making their bow as a new provincial entity last season, the Scottish outfit are surely due a much improved performance.
Nevertheless, even without a bye, Connacht are conscious that only three wins are required to reach the final.
"One of our stated ambitions this season is to bring silverware back to Connacht for the first time and there is no doubt the Celtic Cup gives us a very good opportunity to do that," Bradley said.
Although Bradley has made changes after starting with the same XV for their opening two games, an 11-3 win at home to Edinburgh and a 33-17 defeat away to the Cardiff Blues, this does not signify an experimental approach to this tie.
"We have a strong squad with strong competition for every place in the side. That is the way it should be with every good side and on Friday night some players will be getting their first chance to impress in a competitive game for Connacht."
His counterpart, Tony Gilbert, has also made changes, albeit after two disastrous showings, a 49-12 defeat to the Celtic warriors at home and a morale-crushing 53-7 hammering to Edinburgh last week. Hence he has billed this tie as "a huge, huge game".
"We had a close game against Connacht last season in the first match The Borders ever played and we were disappointed to lose. However, this season Connacht has won 11-3 against Edinburgh Rugby and we were thrashed 53-7 in Edinburgh last weekend so to be competitive against Connacht we will have to be right up to the mark.
"We will have the advantage of playing at home but right now we need everything we can get. "
On the evidence of the Edinburgh games this shouldn't be a contest, but given two changed sides and that the Borders have home advantage it's hardly likely to work out that way. Nevertheless, Connnacht look to have enough potency amongst their backline to progress to the quarter-finals.
THE BORDERS: G Morton; C Moir, J Stuart, K Utterson, A Turnbull; C Laidlaw, C Cusiter; K Todd, R Ford, G Cross, D Weir, C Stewart, A Rennick, C Feather, D Kane.
CONNACHT: D Hewitt; M Mostyn, D Yapp, T Allnutt (capt), T Robinson; E Elwood, C O'Loughlin; W O'Kelly, J Fogarty, F Boiroux; M McCarthy, A Farley; P Neville, J O'Sullivan, M Carroll. Replacements: M Uijs, R Hogan, M Swift, T Carter, M Walls, S Moore, M McHugh.
Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales).
Previous meetings: (2002-3) The Borders 27 Connacht 28.
Leading points scorers: Borders - Walker, Utterson, Kane 5 each. Connacht - Eric Elwood 8.
Leading try scorers: Borders - Walker, Utterson, Kane 1 each. Connacht - Conor McPhillips 2.
Forecast: Connacht to win.
Also playing: Celtic Warriors v Glasgow Rugby, Brewery Field (7.05). (Tomorrow) Llanelli Scarlets v Gwent Dragons, Stradey Park (5.30). Byes: Munster, Cardiff Blues, Edinburgh Rugby, Ulster Ends.
