Connacht lock Andrew Browne has called on his team-mates to make sure they put a sixth victory of the season in the bank against Treviso on Friday before their most difficult few weeks of the campaign.

Pat Lam's high-flyers sit in second place in the Pro12 after their latest win over Edinburgh last time out, but with three interprovincial derbies to come in the four league games after Friday, Browne is full aware that the challenges will only get tougher from here on.

After playing the Italians this week, Connacht face the gruelling trip to Siberia to face Enisei-STM the following weekend, but Browne knows a win is vital on Friday if the province want to play Champions Cup rugby in 12 months' time.

Great start

“We’ve had a great start, but we have another big game to finish off this block of the Pro12, which leads into Europe.

“We want to finish this block on a high and stay up at the top of the table.

“We know it’s going to be hard because a lot of teams will have their front-line players reintegrated into their squads after the World Cup so it’s going to be tough after the European break.

“But we’re pretty happy with where we are at the moment so that has given a good bit of momentum going into Europe,” Browne said.

An injury interrupted season last year saw Browne confined to just two Pro12 starts, but on the back of a summer tour with Emerging Ireland, he has already started four times for Connacht this season.

Six defeats from six for Treviso hint at a squad in disarray, but Browne (28) is refusing to read too much into their most recent defeats.

“They had a hard game against Leinster last week, but Leinster had a good few of their top players back involved for that one.

“We are not underestimating the test we’ll face on Friday. It’ll be a tough game, but we’re look forward to it.

Big pack

“They have a number of the Italian backs in their squad now and they are similar enough to Edinburgh up front. They have the big pack but they are well able to throw the ball around now. They play an expansive game.

“From my own point of view, I’ve been pretty happy with how this season has gone so far. I had a good pre-season coming off the Emerging Ireland tour. That allowed me to hit the ground running more than anything.

“I carried some form into the first few games and I’m happy with my form, but we all have to keep it up now and pick up another win against Treviso.”