European Challenge Cup / Worcester v Connacht: Packs win prizes in the English game that thrives on physicality and aggression, and Worcester boast one of the biggest in the Premiership.
It is a unit that has them in the top four, and one Connacht must contain if Michael Bradley's side want to maintain their lead in pool five.
These back-to-back fixtures with Worcester - Connacht host them on Saturday week in the Galway Sportsground - could determine the pool winner and automatic quarter-finalists.
At present, both teams have full points from their matches with Catania and Montpellier, and, if these two leaders finish on equal terms, the winner will be determined by the aggregate points of these two next matches.
As a result, Bradley is keeping faith with the forwards who dominated Leinster last week - the same eight that also overcame a similarly aggressive Montpellier outfit in France.
"Certainly Worcester are similar in terms of pack size to Montpellier, but more mobile," he said. "They play a structured game and do it well, and we know it will be a difficult assignment.
"However, we have played big packs before so we do not fear them, but we must stop them from getting their maul going."
Worcester have named a starting XV of few surprises, although former England scrumhalf Andy Gomersall is named on the bench with Matt Powell starting alongside outhalf Shane Drahm, who is the third-highest points scorer in the English premiership this season.
They are no slouches in the three-quarters either, with Dale Rasmussen, Thinus Delport and Thomas Lombard all internationals.
Their settled pack contains England wing forward Pat Sanderson, Aussie number eight Drew Hickey, and former Harlequin Kai Horstmann in an aggressive backrow. And their two 6ft 8in locks, Craig Gillies and Pat Murphy, can expect to dominate lineout ball.
While Worcester will be looking to wear down their opponents and let Drahm kick the points, Connacht will be hoping to vary the game and mobilise their backs.
But they will need to improve their continuity and be more clinical with ball in hand, particularly if first-phase ball is limited.
Despite injury concerns over outhalf David Slemen and centre Darren Yapp, both are named in a side that contains only two enforced changes from last week.
With new signings Gavin Williams and Andrew Mailei ineligible to play in these European pool stages, Yapp and Keith Matthews are named in the centre in a timely return from injury for both players.
WORCESTER: N Le Roux; U Oduoza, D Rasmussen, T Lombard, T Delport; S Drahm, M Powell; T Windo, C Forley, C Horsman; P Murphy, C Gillies; K Horstmann, P Sanderson, D Hickey. Replacements: S Sparks, L Forley, E O'Donoghue, J Tuamoheloa, A Gomersall, J Brown, S Whatling.
CONNACHT: M Mostyn; J Hearty, D Yapp, K Matthews, C McPhillips; D Slemen, C Keane; R Hogan, J Fogarty, S Knoop; C Short, A Farley; J Muldoon, M Lacey, C Rigney. Replacements: J Merrigan, A Clarke, A Gallagher, M Swift, T Tierney, P Warwick, T Robinson.
Sixways Stadium, 2.0
