Dax v Connacht:  "I'VE NOT seen Connacht play at all. I know that they are one of the veterans of this tournament and, being Irish, I'm sure they will be a very well-prepared and physical team."

So said Dax head coach Thomas Lièvremont (bother of Marc, the French national coach) ahead of this evening's game. We believe something may have been lost in translation. We suspect Lièvremont's gushing praise of Connacht - given he has not actually watched them play - should be interpreted as follows: "We're too busy trying to retain mid-table status in the Top 14 to be concerned with Ireland's forgotten province and we haven't bothered to learn from their previous smash-and-grab victories in France. I'm sure they train hard every other day."

With the IRFU not giving Connacht much attention why should the opposition?

Granted, Michael Bradley's team put down a respectable marker in beating an understrength Leinster last Sunday; but it's the heavy beatings in Cardiff (58-0) and Llanelli (45-3) that define their season so far.

Victory in the south-west, Basque region of France would demand further consideration of their ongoing struggles.

For this to occur, Ian Keatley must repeat his solid place-kicking performance against Leinster (five from five). They could also do with conjuring up a team try similar to Mike McCarthy's against Leinster.

The England-born lock is unavailable because of the three-week suspension he picked up for head-butting Rocky Elsom in the ensuing dust-up.

As a result, Michael Swift comes into the starting XV, and Robbie Morris replaces Ronan Loughney at tighthead prop.

Dax have taken decent scalps in Biarritz and Bayonne recently but their defence looked porous against top opponents Stade Français and Toulouse, and they also lost 41-9 to Brive.

Connacht confidence is sky high; they have won in France before and, as ever, they are striving for additional support from the powers that be. Dax, with names that hardly spring off the page, will hold few fears.

DAX:L Diaz; B Hiriart, L Marticorena, D Bell, P Albaladejo; M Petitjean, J Pezet; J Brugnaut, W Bonet, J Castex; C Guironnet, A Mazel; B Adrillon, V Deniau, P Caillet (capt). Replacements: M Auzqui, J Jaen, C Poulain, J Cros, J Pendanx, F Argel, J Rouge.

CONNACHT:F Carr; L Bibo, G Duffy, M Deane, M Roberts; I Keatley, F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris; M Swift, A Farley; J Muldoon (capt), J O'Connor, C Rigney. Replacements: J Merrigan, R Loughney, A Browne, R Ofisa, K Campbell, Nathan, J Hearty.

Referee:Andrew Small (England).

Verdict:Connacht to win.