It's been the story of Connacht's season thus far that they keep meeting teams on the rebound from disappointing defeats and who are mustard keen to atone.

The Borders are no exception after conceding a half-century of points to a rampant Leinster last week; the difference being that this time Connacht themselves are in a similar position after their worst defeat of the campaign in Cardiff a week ago.

Michael Bradley and his team will surely be looking for a major reaction to that performance and on the face of things, appear to have been handed the ideal fixture in which to do so. Not alone have Connacht not lost at home to a Scottish side since the thrilling quarter-final defeat to Glasgow three seasons ago, The Borders haven't won a Celtic League match since their victory over Connacht at Netherdale last March.

Since then they've suffered 10 successive losses in the competition and just as pertinently, have never won away from home in the league in a dozen attempts.

That aforementioned defeat last March constitutes Connacht's only reverse in four meetings with The Borders.

Although his return is partially injury enforced, Eric Elwood should provide a steadying hand on the tiller at outhalf in his first competitive start of this, his farewell campaign, alongside another in his first start, Conor O'Loughlin.

The Borders' coach Steve Bates seems to have quickly groomed a younger, more cohesive and hungrier team. They took the game to Leinster last week in deservedly moving into a 13-3 lead by the end of the first quarter and actually did very little wrong, contributing to what was an entertaining advertisement for the competition.

If allowed to do so again, they'll take some subduing, for Connacht don't have the off-the-cuff cutting edge which Leinster possessed.

CONNACHT: D Slemen; N O'Brien, P Warwick, J Downey, C McPhillips; E Elwood, C O'Loughlin; D McFarland, J Fogarty, P Bracken, P Myburgh, A Farley, P Neville, J O'Sullivan, M Lacey. Replacements: H Bourke, A Clarke, C Short, J Muldoon, M Walls, T Robinson, J Meagher.

BORDERS: S Moffat; N Walker, C MacRae, C Hore, J Steel; A Warnock, J Weston; P Thomson (Capt), R Ford, B Douglas, S MacLeod, C Stewart, K Brown, M Blair, W McEntee. Replacements: S Scott, G Cross, T McGee, A Rennick, A Miller, B McKerchar, G Morton.

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

Previous meetings: ('02-'03) (CL) The Borders 27 Connacht 28; (CC) The Borders 21 Connacht 26. ('03-'04) (CL) at Connacht 42 The Borders 19; (CL) The Borders 40 Connacht 29.

Formguide: Connacht - 31-15 v Glasgow (h); 27-27 v Munster (a); 13-19 v Ulster (h); 6-31 v Cardiff (a). Borders: 15-26 v Llanelli (h); 7-10 v Glasgow (h); idle; 13-50 v Leinster (a).

Leading points scorers: Connacht - Paul Warwick 40. Borders - Charlie Hore 15.

Forecast: Connacht to win.

Also playing: Edinburgh Rugby v Cardiff Blues, Murrayfield (3.00); Neath-Swansea Ospreys v Glasgow Rugby, St Helens (5.30).

Munster's frontliners, having missed out on the Olympics, return to the day job tomorrow when seven of those on Ireland's extended pre-season make their long-awaited seasonal reappearances. Presumably there won't be too much familiarisation apart from "Donncha, this is a rugby ball. Over there is the try line and the goalposts," etc, etc.

With the reigning champions Llanelli, the visitors, and Thomond Park the venue, they certainly won't be easing their way back in. There's also the whiff of cordite in the air, given Llanelli were the visitors who eventually ended Munster's proud, six-year unbeaten record at their Limerick fortress in the corresponding fixture last year.

This prompted a memorable text message from one of their absent frontliners, then in a Spanish pre-World Cup training camp. "Never mind lads. That's just six years hard work down the drain." No prizes for guessing who penned it.

Then again, only two of the Munster starting team survive from that fixture; Denis Leamy and Mike Mullins. Recalling that Munster were missing 19 contracted players out of 33 that night, that the tight five was comprised of Simon Kerr, Jerry Flannery, Martin Cahill, Eddie Halvey and Trevor Hogan, and that Killian Keane was pressed out of retirement (conceding the decisive-charge down try), the wonder was that Munster got to within a score.

Since recalling Gareth Bowen (scorer of all 19 points in the corresponding fixture and another 22 in the Stradey Park hiding) earlier in the week, the Scarlets have moved Garan Evans to full back and brought in Aisea Havili on the wing.

After four admittedly patchy performances, the Simon Easterby-led Scarlets look to be getting their act together and are liable to be more cohesive.

Granted, Scott Quinnell's absence will be sorely felt, but it's s still a strong-looking selection, with plenty of muscle up front, Mike Phillips like a ninth forward, and some serious gas out wide.

Against that, Munster will be itching for their first win after last week's enforced idleness.

"We're not going to hit the ground running but that may have done us some good as they've had an extra week's training together and we've trained exceedingly well," admitted coach Alan Gaffney. "They're busting for a game. The only thing we've got to do is control them. It's going to be a good contest. I'm excited about it actually."

With Munster needing to subdue the Scarlets' outside threat, the lineouts and mauls are liable to draw some lines in the sand. For all the sharper attacking edge of Cullen and Co, if the dogs of war get back into the old routine, it could be like the good days again, and at any rate, it promises to be the match of the weekend.

MUNSTER: C Cullen; J Kelly, M Mullins, R Henderson, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, A Quinlan, A Foley, D Leamy. Replacements: G McIlwham, J Flannery, T Hogan, D Wallace, M Prendergast, P Burke, J Storey.

LLANELLI SCARLETS: G Evans; A Havili, M Watkins, M Taylor, T Selley; G Bowen, M Phillips; I Thomas, M Rees, J Davies, V Cooper, A Jones, S Easterby (capt), A Powell, G Thomas. Replacements: P John, C Hawkins, C Wyatt, J Mills, D Peel, A Thomas, R Jones.

Referee: Malcolm Changleng (SRU)

Previous meetings: (03-04) (CL) Munster 12 Llanelli 19; Llanelli 37 Munster 20. (02-03) (CL) Llanelli 13 Munster 20. (01-02) (CL q/f) Munster 13 Llanelli 6.

Formguide: Munster - 17-34 v Ospreys (a); 27-27 v Connacht (h); 15-17 v Leinster (a); idle. Llanelli - 26-15 v Borders (a); 6-23 v Ospreys (h); 0-15 v Dragons (1); 37-16 v Edinburgh (h).

Leading points scorers: Munster: Paul Burke 29. Llanelli: Arwel Thomas, Gareth Bowen 18 each.

Forecast: Munster to win.

Bye Week - ULSTER.

It's been the story of Connacht's season thus far that they keep meeting teams on the rebound from disappointing defeats and who are mustard keen to atone.

The Borders are no exception after conceding a half-century of points to a rampant Leinster last week; the difference being that this time Connacht themselves are in a similar position after their worst defeat of the campaign in Cardiff a week ago.

Michael Bradley and his team will surely be looking for a major reaction to that performance and on the face of things, appear to have been handed the ideal fixture in which to do so. Not alone have Connacht not lost at home to a Scottish side since the thrilling quarter-final defeat to Glasgow three seasons ago, The Borders haven't won a Celtic League match since their victory over Connacht at Netherdale last March.

Since then they've suffered 10 successive losses in the competition and just as pertinently, have never won away from home in the league in a dozen attempts.

That aforementioned defeat last March constitutes Connacht's only reverse in four meetings with The Borders.

Although his return is partially injury enforced, Eric Elwood should provide a steadying hand on the tiller at outhalf in his first competitive start of this, his farewell campaign, alongside another in his first start, Conor O'Loughlin.

The Borders' coach Steve Bates seems to have quickly groomed a younger, more cohesive and hungrier team. They took the game to Leinster last week in deservedly moving into a 13-3 lead by the end of the first quarter and actually did very little wrong, contributing to what was an entertaining advertisement for the competition.

If allowed to do so again, they'll take some subduing, for Connacht don't have the off-the-cuff cutting edge which Leinster possessed.

CONNACHT: D Slemen; N O'Brien, P Warwick, J Downey, C McPhillips; E Elwood, C O'Loughlin; D McFarland, J Fogarty, P Bracken, P Myburgh, A Farley, P Neville, J O'Sullivan, M Lacey. Replacements: H Bourke, A Clarke, C Short, J Muldoon, M Walls, T Robinson, J Meagher.

BORDERS: S Moffat; N Walker, C MacRae, C Hore, J Steel; A Warnock, J Weston; P Thomson (Capt), R Ford, B Douglas, S MacLeod, C Stewart, K Brown, M Blair, W McEntee. Replacements: S Scott, G Cross, T McGee, A Rennick, A Miller, B McKerchar, G Morton.

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

Previous meetings: ('02-'03) (CL) The Borders 27 Connacht 28; (CC) The Borders 21 Connacht 26. ('03-'04) (CL) at Connacht 42 The Borders 19; (CL) The Borders 40 Connacht 29.

Formguide: Connacht - 31-15 v Glasgow (h); 27-27 v Munster (a); 13-19 v Ulster (h); 6-31 v Cardiff (a). Borders: 15-26 v Llanelli (h); 7-10 v Glasgow (h); idle; 13-50 v Leinster (a).

Leading points scorers: Connacht - Paul Warwick 40. Borders - Charlie Hore 15.

Forecast: Connacht to win.

Also playing: Edinburgh Rugby v Cardiff Blues, Murrayfield (3.00); Neath-Swansea Ospreys v Glasgow Rugby, St Helens (5.30).

Munster's frontliners, having missed out on the Olympics, return to the day job tomorrow when seven of those on Ireland's extended pre-season make their long-awaited seasonal reappearances. Presumably there won't be too much familiarisation apart from "Donncha, this is a rugby ball. Over there is the try line and the goalposts," etc, etc.

With the reigning champions Llanelli, the visitors, and Thomond Park the venue, they certainly won't be easing their way back in. There's also the whiff of cordite in the air, given Llanelli were the visitors who eventually ended Munster's proud, six-year unbeaten record at their Limerick fortress in the corresponding fixture last year.

This prompted a memorable text message from one of their absent frontliners, then in a Spanish pre-World Cup training camp. "Never mind lads. That's just six years hard work down the drain." No prizes for guessing who penned it.

Then again, only two of the Munster starting team survive from that fixture; Denis Leamy and Mike Mullins. Recalling that Munster were missing 19 contracted players out of 33 that night, that the tight five was comprised of Simon Kerr, Jerry Flannery, Martin Cahill, Eddie Halvey and Trevor Hogan, and that Killian Keane was pressed out of retirement (conceding the decisive-charge down try), the wonder was that Munster got to within a score.

Since recalling Gareth Bowen (scorer of all 19 points in the corresponding fixture and another 22 in the Stradey Park hiding) earlier in the week, the Scarlets have moved Garan Evans to full back and brought in Aisea Havili on the wing.

After four admittedly patchy performances, the Simon Easterby-led Scarlets look to be getting their act together and are liable to be more cohesive.

Granted, Scott Quinnell's absence will be sorely felt, but it's s still a strong-looking selection, with plenty of muscle up front, Mike Phillips like a ninth forward, and some serious gas out wide.

Against that, Munster will be itching for their first win after last week's enforced idleness.

"We're not going to hit the ground running but that may have done us some good as they've had an extra week's training together and we've trained exceedingly well," admitted coach Alan Gaffney. "They're busting for a game. The only thing we've got to do is control them. It's going to be a good contest. I'm excited about it actually."

With Munster needing to subdue the Scarlets' outside threat, the lineouts and mauls are liable to draw some lines in the sand. For all the sharper attacking edge of Cullen and Co, if the dogs of war get back into the old routine, it could be like the good days again, and at any rate, it promises to be the match of the weekend.

MUNSTER: C Cullen; J Kelly, M Mullins, R Henderson, A Horgan; R O'Gara, P Stringer; M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, D O'Callaghan, P O'Connell, A Quinlan, A Foley, D Leamy. Replacements: G McIlwham, J Flannery, T Hogan, D Wallace, M Prendergast, P Burke, J Storey.

LLANELLI SCARLETS: G Evans; A Havili, M Watkins, M Taylor, T Selley; G Bowen, M Phillips; I Thomas, M Rees, J Davies, V Cooper, A Jones, S Easterby (capt), A Powell, G Thomas. Replacements: P John, C Hawkins, C Wyatt, J Mills, D Peel, A Thomas, R Jones.

Referee: Malcolm Changleng (SRU)

Previous meetings: (03-04) (CL) Munster 12 Llanelli 19; Llanelli 37 Munster 20. (02-03) (CL) Llanelli 13 Munster 20. (01-02) (CL q/f) Munster 13 Llanelli 6.

Formguide: Munster - 17-34 v Ospreys (a); 27-27 v Connacht (h); 15-17 v Leinster (a); idle. Llanelli - 26-15 v Borders (a); 6-23 v Ospreys (h); 0-15 v Dragons (1); 37-16 v Edinburgh (h).

Leading points scorers: Munster: Paul Burke 29. Llanelli: Arwel Thomas, Gareth Bowen 18 each.

Forecast: Munster to win.

Bye Week - ULSTER.