European Challenge Cup: Caution will be the name of the game in Connacht this week as Michael Bradley ensures his players keep their feet firmly on the ground for Saturday's second-leg tie against Grenoble at the Sportsground.

The Connacht coach knows the Irish side are in the driving seat after their superb 26-21 win away to Grenoble in the first leg of the Challenge Cup quarter-final.

But despite being red-hot favourites to advance to the semi-final of the competition for the second year in succession, Bradley is fearful of a French backlash.

"It is much better to coming back from France five points up than five points down, but this is just half-time in the tie. There is still a lot of hard work to be done," he said.

And, as if to focus attention on the task in hand, Connacht's injury woes have reached crisis proportion, ensuring that the busiest man in the west for the next few days will be physio Brian Downey. Their injury jinx struck again prior to Friday night's match when full back Matt Mostyn and flanker Matt Lacey both cried off through injury.

Connacht named Lacey on the bench, but in essence they had just 20 players available. Remarkably, they only had two other fit players at home - prop Tony Buckley an scrumhalf Mike Walls - to call upon from their depleted resources.

Bradley will now be hoping that injuries picked up by captain Andrew Farley (shoulder), prop Ray Hogan (shoulder) and utility back James Downey (neck) will clear up before next Saturday.

"The important thing now is that we get as many injury problems as possible sorted out, regroup for next Saturday's second leg and nail down the semi-final spot," said Bradley.