Challenge Cup/Connacht v Newcastle:This evening's arrival of the Falcons will ultimately not amount to Connacht's most important fixture of the season, but as the presence of Jonny Wilkinson highlighted in a pre-season friendly a few years ago (which clogged up the sunlit roads from Connemara) it is probably their marquee fixture of the campaign.
As the recent list of English winners of this competition highlights - Harlequins, Sale (twice) and Gloucester - winning this competition is Connacht's least likely route to the cherished land of the Heineken European Cup.
The presence of Carl Hayman for the All Black's full debut in a Newcastle jersey also underlines the financial inequalities under which Connacht operate. World-class tightheads don't fall off trees, hence they ain't paid peanuts, but by putting Hayman straight into arguably their strongest starting line-up, the Falcons have clearly targeted this game.
In contrast to Connacht, and all the more so in light of their exit from the EDF Cup last week, the European Challenge Cup is possibly Newcastle's best route into next season's European Cup.
"If we are going to progress we have to get some sort of return from these back-to-back matches with the Falcons and, obviously as your home match is the best chance of doing that, we have earmarked this one," said coach Michael Bradley.
"However, they have clearly set their stall out and see winning the tournament as a direct route into next season's Heineken Cup. They have made a good start but our win over Glasgow Warriors at the weekend will boost our confidence."
CONNACHT: G Duffy; A Wynne, D Yapp, M Deane, O Treviranus; A Dunne, C O'Loughlin; B Wilkinson, A Flavin, R Morris, M Swift, A Farley (capt), M McCarthy, J O'Connor, C Muldoon. Replacements: J Fogarty, R Loughney, D Gannon, R Ofisa, C McPhillips, T Donnelly, M Mostyn.
NEWCASTLE FALCONS: M Tait; T May, J Noon, T Flood, J Rudd; J Wilkinson, H Charlton; J McDonnell, A Long, C Hayman, G Parling, M Sorensen, B Wilson, B Woods, P Dowson (capt). Replacements: M Thompson, M Ward, S Tomes, R Winter, L Dickson, S Jones, T Visser.
Referee: Franck Maciello (France).
Odds (Paddy Powers): Connacht + 6pts _ 10/11 Connacht, 20/1 Draw, 10/11 Newcastle.
Forecast: Newcastle to win.
