Connacht have been handed a timely boost with Robbie Henshaw being made available for Saturday's crunch Pro12 clash with Scarlets at the Sportsground.

And prop Rodney Ah You has also been made available after Connacht coach Pat Lam made a case for them to play this weekend and not travel to Bayonne for the Challenge Cup clash two weeks later.

Connacht are currently sixth in the table, just a point ahead of Scarlets who come to Galway on the back of a good win over Glasgow Warriors last weekend.

“The Pro12 is more vital for us than the Challenge Cup with points on the line,” said Lam.

"The IRFU have been great, there is a week off that they get as part of the player management programme, Kieran Marmion had his last week.

“It is such a massive game and so there was flexibility shown from the IRFU to allow Robbie and Rodney Ah You to play these next two home games. They won’t travel to Bayonne they will take their week off then, which is great news for us,” he added.